LAWS 


Governing 
Registration 
and  Elections 


in  the  City  of  Detroit 


CITY  CLERK’S  OFFICE 


■ ■ Detroit,  Mich. 

GEORGE  T.  GASTON,  City  Clerk 


LAWS 


GOVERNING 

Registration  and  Elections 


IN  THE 

CITY  OF  DETROIT 


GEORGE  T.  GASTON, 

City  Clerk. 


1906 

Houghton- Jacobson  Printing  Co, 
Detroit,  Mich. 


3 SZ.O ’7 745 
Y}4 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 
in  2017  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign  Alternates 


https://archive.org/details/lawsgoverningregOOdetr 


AN  ACT 


To  Amend  and  Revise  Chapters  One  and  Two  of  an  Act  entitled 
“An  Act  to  Provide  a charter  for  the  City  of  Detroit,  and  to 
ripeal  all  acts  and  parts  of  acts  in  conflict  therewith,” 
approved  June  seventh,  eighteen  hundred  and  eighty-three. 


Section  1.  The  people  of  the  State  of  Michigan  enact:  That 
chapters  one  and  two  of  an  act  entitled  “An  act  to  provide  a 
charter  for  the  City  of  Detroit,  and  to  repeal  all  acts  and  parts  of 
acts  in  conflict  therewith,”  approved  June  seventh,  eighteen  hun- 
dred and  eighty-three,  be  and  the  same  are  hereby  revised  and 
amended  so  as  to  read  as  follows: 


CHAPTER  I. 


Section  1.  The  people  of  the  State  of  Michigan  enact:  That  Name  and 


Powers. 


the  inhabitants  of  the  City  of  Detroit  shall  continue  to  be  one 
body  politic  and  corporate,  under  the  name  and  style  of  the  City 
of  Detroit;  and  as  such  shall  have,  exercise  and  enjoy  such 
powers  of  a local  legislative  and  administrative  character  as  are 
conferred  by  this  act,  or  by  the  general  laws  of  the  State  of 
Michigan,  and  shall  also  exercise  and  enjoy  such  implied  and 
incidental  powers  and  rights  as  are  of  right  possessed  by  munici- 
pal corporations  in  this  State. 

Sec.  2.  The  powers  of  local  government  possessed  by  said  Department* 
city  are  divided  into  two  departments,  the  legislative  and  admin- 
istrative. No  person  or  body  belonging  to  one  department  shall 


4 


TERRITORIAL  BOUNDARIES  AND  WARD  LIMITS. 


Boundaries. 


exercise  powers  properly  belonging  to  the  other,  except  in  cases 
expressly  provided  in  this  act. 

Sec.  3.  The  territorial  limits  of  said  City  of  Detroit  shall  in- 
clude all  that  tract  of  country  in  the  County  of  Wayne,  bounded 
and  described  as  follows:  Beginning  at  the  intersection  of  the 
national  boundary  line  in  the  Detroit  river  with  the  easterly  line 
of  private  claim  number  two  hundred  and  fifty-seven  extended, 
running  thence  northerly  along  the  easterly  line  of  said  private 
claim  number  two  hundred  and  fifty-seven,  and  along  the  east- 
erly line  of  the  back  concession  of  said  private  claim  numbered 
two  hundred  and  fifty-seven  to  the  center  of  the  Butler  road, 
so-called;  thence  westerly  along  the  rear  lines  of  private  claims 
to  the  center  of  Saint  Charles  avenue;  thence  northwesterly  along 
the  center  of  Saint  Charles  avenue  to  the  center  of  Strong  ave- 
nue; thence  along  the  center  of  Strong  avenue,  westerly  and 
northwesterly  to  the  intersection  of  jthe  center  line  of  Mount 
Elliott  avenue  extended;  thence  westerly  along  a line  parallel 
with  the  northerly  line  of  tfye,, Boulevard  to  the  easterly  line  of 
Saint  ^ubin  avenue;  thence  northerly  along. ^a^Ld,  e^pterly  line 
of  Saint  Aubin  avenue,  and  Saint  Aubin  avenue  extended  to  a 
point  in  fractional  section  thirty-nine,  town  one  south  of  range 
twelve  east,  said  point  being  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  feet 
northerly  of  the  southerly  line  of  said  quarter  section  thirty- 
nine;  thence  westerly  on  a line  parallel  with  the  southerly  line 
of  said  quarter  section  thirty-nine,  and  being  two  hundred  and 
thirty-three  feet  northerly  of  the  southerly  line  of  said  quarter 
section  thirty-nine,  to  a point  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  feet 
easterly  of  the  center  line  of  Oakland  avenue,  so-called;  thence 
northerly  on  a line  parallel  with  said  center  line  of  Oakland 
avenue,  and  Oakland  avenue  extended,  and  two  hundred  and 
thirty-three  feet  easterly  thereof,  to  a point  indicated  by  and 
intersecting  the  easterly  and  westerly  center  line  of  quarter  sec- 


TERRITORIAL  BOUNDARIES  AND  WARD  LIMITS. 


5 


tion  twenty-three  of  the  ten  thousand  acre  tract  in  Hamtramck 
Township;  thence  westerly  from  said  last  mentioned  point  along 
the  center  line  of  quarter  section  twenty-three  and  twenty-four 
of  the  ten  thousand  acre  tract  in  Hamtramck  Township,  across 
Woodward  avenue,  so-called,  and  along  the  center  line  of  quar- 
ter sections  twenty-five  and  twenty-six  of  the  ten  thousand  acre 
tract  in  Greenfield  Township,  to  a point  two  hundred  and  fifty 
feet  westerly  of  the  center  line  of  Crawford  street,  so-called 
extended;  thence  southerly  on  a line  parallel  with  the  center 
line  of  Crawford  street  extended  and  two  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
westerly  thereof,  to  a point  in  quarter  section  thirty-five  of  said 
ten  thousand  acre  tract,  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  feet  north- 
erly of  the  center  line  of  the  Williams  road,  so-called;  thence 
westerly  on  a line  parallel  with  the  center  line  of  said  Williams 
road,  and  two  hundred  and  thirty-three  feet  northerly  thereof  to 
the  westerly  line  of  Twelfth  street;  thence  southerly  along  the 
westerly  line  of  Twelfth  Street  to  a point  two  hundred  and 
twenty-four  and  three-fourths  feet  northerly  of  the  northerly 
line  of  the  Boulevard;  thence  westerly  on  a line  i>arsLllel  with 
and  two  hundred  and  twenty-four  and  three-fourths  feet  north- 
erly of  the  northerly  line  of  the  Boulevard,  to  a point  in  section 
fifty-two  of  the  ten  thousand  acre  tract,  said  point  being  two 
hundred  feet  west  of  the  west  line  of  the  Boulevard  in  section 
two,  town  two  south,  range  eleven  east  extended  north;  thence 
south  on  a line  two  hundred  feet  west  of  and  parallel  with  the 
west  line  of  said  Boulevard  to  the  northerly  line  of  the  private 
claims;  thence  westerly  on  the  rear  of  the  northerly  line  of  the 
private  claims  to  the  westerly  line  of  back  concession,  private 
claim  thirty;  thence  westerly  in  a direct  course  to  the  easterly 
line  of  private  claim  two  hundred  and  sixty-six;  thence  south- 
erly along  the  easterly  line  of  private  claim  two  hundred  and 
sixty-six  to  the  southerly  line  of  Toledo  avenue;  thence  westerly 


6 


TERRITORIAL  BOUNDARIES  AND  WARD  LIMITS. 


Ward  bound- 
aries. 


First  Ward. 


Second  Ward. 


Third  Ward. 


Fourth  Ward. 


along  the  southerly  line  of  Toledo  avenue  to  the  westerly  line  of 
Livernois  avenue;  thence  southerly  along  the  westerly  line  of 
said  Livernois  avenue,  to  the  northerly  line  of  the  Dix  road; 
thence  westerly  on  said  northerly  line  of  said  Dix  road  to  the 
westerly  line  of  Artillery  avenue  extended;  thence  southerly 
along  said  westerly  line  of  Artillery  avenue  extended  to  the 
national  boundary  line  in  the  Detroit  River  up  stream  to  the 
place  of  beginning;  and  also  all  that  parcel  of  land  situated  in 
the  Detroit  river  and  known  as  Belle  Isle. 

(See  also  Acts  annexing  part  of  the  Townships  of  Greenfield 
and  Springwells.) 

(As  amended  by  act  approved  June  2,  1897.) 

Sec.  4.  The  said  city  is  hereby  divided  into  the  following 
wards: 

First.  The  first  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  the  city 
lying  between  the  center  line  of  Woodward  avenue  and  Beaubien 
street,  and  the  said  lines  extended  northerly  and  southerly  to 
the  city  limits. 

Second.  The  second  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of 
said  city  bounded  on  the  east  by  the  center  line  of  Woodward 
avenue,  and  on  the  west  by  the  center  line  of  First  street,  from 
the  Detroit  river  to  the  center  line  of  Grand  River  avenue,  up 
Grand  River  avenue  to  the  center  line  of  Second  street  and 
along  the  center  line  of  Second  street,  and  the  said  lines  extend- 
ing northerly  and  southerly  to  the  city  limits. 

Third.  The  third  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  said 
city  lying  between  the  center  lines  of  Beaubien  street  and  Hast- 
ings street,  and  the  said  lines  extended  northerly  and  southerly 
to  the  city  limits. 

Fourth.  The  fourth  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of 
said  city  lying  between  the  westerly  boundary  line  of  the  second 


TERRITORIAL  BOUNDARIES  AND  WARD  LIMITS. 


7 


ward  above  described  and  the  center  line  of  Crawford  street, 
from  the  northerly  city  limits  to  the  center  line  of  Grand  River 
avenue ; thence  through  Grand  River  avenue  to  the  center  line  of 
Fifth  street,  and  down  the  center  line  of  Fifth  street  and  the 
said  lines  extended  northerly  and  southerly  to  the  city  limits. 

Fifth.  The  fifth  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  said 
city  lying  between  the  center  lines  of  Hastings  street  and  Russell 
street,  and  the  said  lines  extended  northerly  and  southerly  to 
the  city  limits. 

Sixth.  The  sixth  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  said 
city  lying  between  the  west  boundary  line  of  the  fourth  ward 
above  described,  and  the  center  line  of  Trumbull  avenue,  and 
the  said  lines  extended  northerly  and  southerly  to  the  city  limits. 

Seventh.  The  seventh  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of 
said  city  lying  between  the  center  line  of  Russell  street  and  De- 
quindre  street,  and  the  said  lines  extended  northerly  and  south- 
erly to  the  city  limits. 

Eighth.  The  eighth  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of 
said  city  lying  between  the  east  line  of  Godfroy  farm  and  the 
center  line  of  Trumbull  avenue,  and  the  said  lines  extended 
northerly  and  southerly  to  the  city  limits. 

Ninth.  The  ninth  ivard  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  said 
city  lying  between  the  center  lines  of  Dequindre  street  and 
Chene  street,  and  the  said  lines  extended  northerly  and  south- 
erly to  the  city  limits. 

Tenth.  The  tenth  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of  said 
city  lying  between  the  west  line  of  the  Loranger  farm  and  the 
east  line  of  the  Godfroy  farm,  and  the  said  lines  extended  north- 
erly and  southerly  to  the  city  limits. 


Fifth  Ward. 


Sixth  Ward. 


Seventh  Ward. 


Eighth  Ward. 


Ninth  Ward. 


Tenth  Ward. 


8 


TERRITORIAL  BOUNDARIES  AND  WARD  LIMITS. 


Eleventh 

Ward. 


Twelfth 

Ward. 


Thirteenth 

Ward. 


Fourteenth 

Ward. 


Fifteenth 

Ward. 


Sixteenth 

Ward. 


Seventeenth 

Ward. 


Eighteenth 

Ward. 


Eleventh.  The  eleventh  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part 
of  said  city  lying  between  the  center  lines  of  Chene  street  and 
McDougall  avenue,  and  the  said  lines  extended  northerly  and 
southerly  to  the  city  limits. 

Twelfth.  The  twelfth  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of 
said  city  lying  between  the  west  line  of  the  Loranger  farm  and 
the  westerly  line  of  the  Porter  farm,  and  the  said  lines  extended 
northerly  and  southerly  to  the  city  limits. 

Thirteenth.  The  thirteenth  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part 
of  said  city  lying  between  the  center  line  of  McDougall  avenue 
and  the  center  line  of  Mount  Elliott  avenue,  and  the  said  lines 
extended  northerly  and  southerly  to  the  city  limits. 

Fourteenth.  The  fourteenth  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that 
part  of  said  city  lying  between  the  westerly  line  of  the  Porter 
farm  and  the  westerly  line  of  private  claim  forty-seven,  and  the 
said  lines  extended  northerly  and  southerly  to  the  city  limits. 

(See  Act  annexing  part  of  Township  of  Greenfield.) 

Fifteenth.  The  fifteenth  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of 
said  city  lying  east  of  the  center  line  of  Mount  Elliott  avenue 
extended  northerly  and  southerly  to' the  city  limits,  and  the  cen- 
ter line  of  Field  avenue  extended  northerly  and  southerly  to  the 
city  lipaits,  pud  shall  include  that  parcel  of  land  situate  in  the 
Detroit  river  known  ^s  Belle  Isle. 

Sixteenth.  The  sixteenth  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that  part  of 
said  city  lying  west  of  the  westerly  line  of  private  claim  forty- 
seven,  and  the  said  line  extended  northerly  and  southerly  to  the 
city  limits. 

(See  Act  annexing  part  of  Township  of  Springwells.) 

Seventeenth.  The  seventeenth  ward  shall  consist  of  all  that 
part  of  said  city  lying  east  of  the  center  line  of  Field  avenue 
extended  northerly  and  southerly  to  the  city  limits.  The  present 
officers  of  said  fifteenth  ward  shall  continue  to  transact  the 
business  of  said  seventeenth  ward  until  the  next  regular  election 
of  city  and  ward  officials. 

(Eighteenth.  See  Act  annexing  part  of  Township  of  Spring- 
wells.) 

As  amended  by  act  approved  May  28,  1897. 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


9 


CHAPTER  II. 

REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 

Section  1.  No  city  election  shall  be  held  in  November,  nine- 
teen hundred  one,  and  annual  city  elections  are  hereby  abolished. 
A biennial  city  election  shall  be  held  on  the  first  Tuesday  after 
the  first  Monday  in  November  in  the  year  nineteen  hundred  two, 
and  every  second  year  thereafter  in  connection  with  the  general 
State  election  held  on  the  same  day  and  to  be  conducted  by  the 
same  officers.  A biennial  spring  election  shall  be  held  on  the 
first  Monday  of  April  in  the  year  nineteen  hundred  three,  and 
every  second  year  thereafter  in  connection  with  the  State  judi- 
cial election  held  on  the  same  day,  and  to  be  conducted  by  the 
same  officers.  The  election  districts  in  the  several  wards  of 
the  City  of  Detroit  as  now  established  shall  remain  until  they 
shall  be  changed  as  provided  by  this  act.  It  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  Common  Council  when  any  election  district  shall  contain 
over  six  hundred  and  fifty  electors  to  either  divide  such  voting 
district  into  two  or  more  election  districts,  attach  a portion 
thereof  to  an  adjoining  district,  or  re-district  the  entire  ward  or 
any  part  thereof  in  which  such  election  district  is  located.  When 
a district  shall  be  divided,  or  the  boundaries  thereof  changed, 
the  Common  Council  shall  assign  the  several  registrars  and 
inspectors  who  were  elected  at  the  last  preceding  election  in  such 
district,  to  the  new  districts  in  which  they  respectively  reside, 


Annual  City 

Elections 

abolished. 


Biennial  City 
Elections, 
when  held. 


Biennial 
Spring 
Elections, 
when  held. 


Election 

Districts. 


Division  of 

Election 

Districts. 


Registrars, 
when  district 
is  divided. 


10 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


Ward  Lines 
to  bound 
Election 
Districts. 


Notice  of 
Registration. 


Registration 
in  (Divided 
Districts, 
when  held. 


Registrars  to 
be  elected 
at  the 
November 
Elections. 


“Board  of 
Registration 
of  Electors,” 
how  to 
qualify. 

To  hold  office 
for  two  years. 


Vacancies  in 
Board,  how 
filled. 


How  elected. 


and  to  appoint  a sufficient  number  of  qualified  electors  of  such 
new  districts,  who,  with  the  persons  so  assigned,  and  a chairman 
to  be  designated  by  the  Common  Council,  shall  constitute  the 
registrars  and  inspectors  of  election  of  such  new  district.  Elec- 
tion districts  shall  be  bounded  by  ward  lines,  by  streets  or 
alleys,  or  other  well-known  and  established  boundary  lines. 
Notice  of  a general  re-registration  of  electors  in  all  new  districts 
shall  be  embodied  in  the  notice  of  registration  required  by  this 
act,  to  be  published  by  the  City  Clerk,  and  such  registration  shalT 
be  made  in  the  same  manner  as  is  provided  herein  for  the  new 
registration  directed  to  be  made  every  fourth  year,  excepting 
that  the  sessions  of  the  board  other  than  in  such  fourth  year 
shall  be  held  on  the  same  days  as  the  other  sessions  are  held  in 
intermediate  years,  as  herein  provided. 

(As  amended  by  act  approved  May  21,  1901.) 

Sec.  2.  There  shall  be  elected  by  ballot  at  the  biennial  No- 
vember election  in  the  City  of  Detroit  in  November,  nineteen 
hundred  two,  and  at  the  November  election  in  each  second  year 
thereafter  in  each  of  the  several  election  districts,  three  qualified 
electors  of  the  district,  who  shall  constitute  a “Board  of  Regis- 
tration of  Electors.”  They  shall  qualify  by  taking  the  consti- 
tutional oath  of  office,  to  be  filed  with  the  City  Clerk,  and  shall 
hold  office  for  two  years  from  the  first  day  of  January  next 
following  their  election  and  until  their  successors  are  elected 
and  qualified,  and  if  from  death,  failure  to  qualify,  removal  from 
the  district  or  other  cause,  a vacancy  in  such  office  shall  occur, 
or  the  person  elected  be  unable  to  perform  the  duties  of  the 
office,  the  Common  Council  may  appoint  a suitable  person  to 
perform  such  duties  for  the  remainder  of  the  term  or  until  the 
disability  be  removed.  At  the  election  of  such  persons,  no  elector 
shall  vote  for  more  than  two  candidates  and  from  the  whole 
number  of  votes  cast  the  three  persons  receiving  the  highest 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


11 


number  of  votes  cast  for  such  office  shall  be  declared  elected. 
The  person  receiving  the  highest  number  of  votes  shall  be  the 
chairman  of  the  district  boards  of  registration  and  inspectors  of 
elections  as  herein  constituted.  Tie  votes  shall  be  determined 
in  like  manner  as  cases  of  an  equal  number  of  votes  cast  for  the 
other  city  offices.  The  registrars  shall  be  persons  who  can  read 
and  write  in  the  English  language  intelligently.  The  fact  that  a 
registrar  or  inspector  is  a candidate  for  re-election  shall  not 
disqualify  him  from  acting  as  such  inspector  or  registrar. 

(As  amended  by  act  approved  May  21,  1901.) 

Sec.  3.  Any  vacancy  occurring  in  the  chairmanship  of  any 
district  board  of  registration  by  death  or  removal  from  such 
district  may  be  filled  by  the  Common  Council.  In  the  year 
eighteen  hundred  ninety-six  and  every  fourth  year  thereafter 
there  shall  be  a new  general  registration  of  all  the  electors  in 
the  several  election  districts,  and  for  that  purpose  the  several 
district  boards  of  registration  shall  meet  at  the  place  designated 
in  the  notice  published  by  the  City  Clerk,  as  hereinafter  provided 
on  the  third  Monday  in  September  and  the  following  Tuesday 
and  Wednesday  preceding  the  general  election  in  November  of 
said  years  and  in  each  fourth  year  thereafter,  and  shall  continue 
in  session  on  each  of  said  days  from  the  hour  of  eight  o’clock 
a.  m.  until  eight  thirty  o’clock  p.  m.  (standard  time)  without 
adjourning.  Such  general  re-registration  shall  be  made  in  the 
“register  of  electors”  for  such  districts  and  shall  be  of  the  names 
of  all  persons  at  the  time  residing  in  such  districts  and  qualified 
as  electors  in  said  districts  according  to  the  provisions  of  the 
constitution  and  as  hereinafter  provided.  Their  sessions  will  be 
public.  The  board  at  every  session  shall  have  power  and  it 
shall  be  their  duty  to  question  every  person  presenting  himself 

for  registration,  touching  his  residence  and  other  qualifications, 

c 

as  an  elector  of  the  district,  and  such  other  matters  as  are  re- 


Ohairman  of 
the  Board. 


How  tie  vote 
to  be  decided. 


When  not 
disqualified. 


Vacancy  in 
office  of 
Chairman  of 
Board 


Meetings  of 
Board  of 
Registration. 


General 

Registration. 


Prove  right 
at  applicant 
to  register. 


12 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


Oath. 


Registration 
of  qualified 
ejectors. 


quired  to  be  entered  in  said  register,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  applicant  to  make  truthful  answers  to  all  such  questions, 
and  the  board  may  employ  an  interpreter,  if  they  deem  it 
necessary,  who  shall  be  sworn  truly  and  impartially  to  interpret 
all  such  questions  and  answers,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said 
board,  on  the  demand  of  any  of  them  or  of  any  elector  who 
shall  be  present,  to  administer  to  all  persons  who  shall  person- 
ally apply  to  register  the  following  oath  or  affirmation: 

“You  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  you  will  fully  and 
truly  answer  all  such  questions  as  shall  be  put  to  you,  touching 
your  place  of  residence,  name,  place  of  birth,  your  qualifications 
as  an  elector  and  your  right  as  such  to  register  and  vote  under 
the  laws  of  this  State.”  Either  of  such  registrars  may  adminis- 
ter the  oath  to  the  applicant  and  the  oath  to  the  interpreter,  if 
one  be  employed. 

Sec.  4.  Every  male  person  who  is  or  at  the  next  election  in 
said  City  of  Detroit  will  be  entitled  to  vote  therein,  on  personal 
application  in  the  election  district  where  he  lawfully  resides, 
and  complying  with  the  requirements  herein,  may  be  registered 
as  an  elector  therein,  but  not  otherwise.  And  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  every  elector  resident  in  said  city  to  see  that  his  name  has 
been  so  registered  and  no  person  shall  be  deemed  or  held  to  have 
acquired  a legal  residence  in  any  ward  or  election  district  for 
the  purpose  of  voting  therein  at  any  election  therein,  unless  he 
shall  have  caused  himself  to  be  registered  as  an  elector  in  said 
district,  in  the  manner  and  at  the  time  hereinafter  prescribed, 
and  no  person  shall  be  registered  as  an  elector  of  said  city  at  any 
other  time  or  place  than  those  which  are  in  this  act  designated; 
nor  shall  any  ballot  be  received  by  the  inspectors  at  any  election 
on  any  pretense  whatever  unless  the  name  of  the  person  offering 
such  ballot  shall  have  been  entered  in  the  register  of  the  district 
in  which  he  claims  to  vote  as  herein  provided. 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


13 


Sec.  5.  On  or  before  the  fifteenth  day  of  September  in  each 
year  when  the  general  registration  of  electors  is  required  to  be 
made,  the  City  Clerk  shall  procure  and  have  in  readiness  a book 
for  each  and  every  election  district  in  said  city  for  the  registra- 
tion of  electors  therein,  and  it  shall  be  styled  “the  register  of 
electors”  for  such  district.  Each  register  shall  be  made  of  good 
and  suitable  paper  and  substantially  bound  and  contain  space 
and  ruled  lines  for  at  least  twelve  hundred  names  and  be  ar- 
ranged and  ruled  in  parallel  columns  with  printed  headings  in 
the  following  order:  “Number  (consecutively)  full  name;  resi- 
dence; age;  term  of  residence  in  the  state  and  ward;  nativity; 
naturalized;  declared  intention  prior  to  May  fourth,  eighteen 
hundred  ninety-two;  date  of  registration;  sworn;  remarks,  and 
the  ruling  and  headings  on  each  page  of  the  register  shall  be 
according  to  the  following  diagram  enlarged: 


-M  v.  TfO’red 


?b  no! 


bnrp 


Register  of 
Electors  to  be 
kept  by  City 
Clerk. 


REGISTER  OF  ELECTORS  DISTRICT WARD. 


14 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


Remarks 

' 

uaoMg 

1 

Date  of 
Registration 

' 

Naturalized  or 
declared  inten- 
tion to  become 
a citizen  prior 
to  May  4,  1892. 

uoi^ua^uj 

pajBpaaQ 

pazi 

-IBjn^BN 

1j  i • 

Term  of 
Residence 

P»Ak  “I 

0 ' 9 I B 

* • ' li  ■ ..  i fli  -4 

“I 

•5  i - ' • T* 

V 

be 

C 

Residence 

v 

E 

a 

Z 


fo 


o 

Z 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


15 


Sec.  6.  The  district  board  of  registration  having  openly  and 
publicly  met  at  the  time  and  place  herein  appointed,  shall  pro- 
ceed as  follows;  They  shall  examine  each  applicant  as  to  his 
residence  and  qualifications  as  an  elector,  and  if  it  shall  be 
determined  by  the  board  that  he  is  a qualified  elector  in  such 
district,  then  he  shall  be  registered  in  the  register,  and  the 
proper  entries  made  in  the  respective  columns,  and  if  any  elector 
present  so  demands,  shall  enter  the  word  “challenge”  in  the 
column  for  remarks. 

Sec.  7.  Only  the  names  of  such  male  persons  as  are  of  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years  residing  in  such  district  shall  be  en- 
tered on  said  register,  but  every  applicant  who  would  be  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  on  the  date  of  the  next  election,  if  otherwise 
qualified,  may  be  so  entered.  Every  applicant  who  has  com- 
menced to  reside  in  such  ward  and  who  has  resided  therein  a 
sufficient  number  of  days  with  those  that  may  intervene  between 
the  date  of  application  and  next  election,  to  make  twenty  days, 
may  be  entered  in  said  register  if  he  be  actually  a resident  of 
such  district  and  otherwise  qualified,  but  in  such  case  they  shall 
enter  in  the  columns  of  “Remarks”  the  word  “challenge,”  and 
unless  on  the  day  of  election  he  shall  have  resided  for  full  twenty 
days  in  such  ward  and  is  then  a resident  of  such  district,  such 
applicant  cannot  vote  therein,  although  otherwise  qualified. 

Sec.  8.  The  register  shall  be  ruled  and  one  name  shall  be 
written  on  each  line,  but  no  name  shall  be  written  between  lines. 
In  entering  the  number  of  the  applicant,  the  numbers  shall  be 
filled  up  consecutively,  leaving  no  blank,  and  in  name  they  shall 
include  his  Christian  name  in  full,  as  well  as  his  surname.  The 
names  shall  be  entered  consecutively  in  the  order  in  which  the 
applicants  apply  to  be  registered.  The  other  entries  shall  be 
as  follows: 


Board  of  Reg- 
istration to 
examine 
applicants. 


Qualfications 
of  applicants 
for  registra- 
tion. 


How  entered 
in  register. 


16 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


First.  In  the  column  headed  “residence,”  the  name  of  the 
street,  avenue  and  number  of  the  dwelling,  if  there  be  a definite 
number,  and  if  there  shall  not  be  a number  or  name,  such  clear 
and  definite  description  of  such  place  and  dwelling  as  shall 
enable  it  to  be  readily  ascertained.  If  there  shall  be  more  than 
one  house  at  the  number  given  by  the  applicant  as  his  place  of 
residence,  state  in  which  house  he  resides,  and  if  there  be  more 
than  one  family  residing  in  said  house  he  must  state  either  the 
floor  on  which  he  resides  or  the  number  and  location  of  the  room 
or  rooms  occupied  by  him,  whether  in  front  or  rear.  Every  floor 
below  the  level  of  the  street  or  ground  being  designated  as  a 
basement,  the  first  floor  above  such  level  being  designated  as 
the  first  floor. 

Second.  In  the  column  headed  “names,”  enter  the  name  of 
the  applicant,  writing  the  surname  first  and  the  given  or 
Christian  name  after. 

Third.  In  the  column  headed  “nativity,”  the  state,  kingdom, 
empire  or  dominion  where  the  applicant  was  born. 

Fourth.  In  the  columns  headed  “term  of  residence”  and  their 
subdivisions,  the  periods  by  day,  month  or  year  stated  by  the 
applicant  for  which  he  has  resided  in  the  State  and  ward. 

Fifth.  In  the  column  headed  “naturalized,”  the  word  “yes” 
if  the  applicant  be  a naturalized  citizen. 

Sixth.  If  the  applicant  be  not  a native  born  citizen  and  is 
not  a naturalized  citizen,  but  has  declared  his  intentions  to  be- 
come a citizen  two  years  and  six  months  or  more  before  the 
eighth  day  of  November,  eighteen  hundred  -and  ninety-four,  in 
the  column  headed  “declared  intentions,”  enter  “yes.” 


KEGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


17 


Seventh.  It  shall  not  be  necessary  to  enter  under  the  head- 
ing of  naturalized  or  declared  intention,  an  entry  as  to  any 
elector  excepting  only  such  persons  as  have  become  entitled  to 
vote  by  reason  of  naturalization,  or  a declaration  of  intention, 
made  two  years  and  six  months  or  more  before  the  eighth  day 
of  November,  eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-four. 

Eighth.  In  the  column  headed  “date  of  registration,”  the  date 
on  which  the  application  was  actually  registered,  and  none 
other. 

Ninth.  In  the  column  headed  “sworn,”  will  be  entered  the. 
word  “sworn”  (or  affirmed)  if  the  applicant  is  required  to  take 
an  oath  or  affirmation. 

Sec.  9.  At  the  close  of  each  day’s  registration,  the  registra- 
tions for  the  day  shall  then  be  ruled  off  by  double  lines  to  be 
drawn  by  the  registrars  across  the  page  in  ink,  and  immediately 
under  the  last  name  and  statement  so  registered;  and  the  regis- 
trars shall  make  a note  in  writing  under  such  double  lines,  stat- 
ing “close  of  first,  second  and  so  forth,  day’s  registration,”  and 
attest  the  same  by  the  signature  of  the  chairman  or  two  of  the 
registrars. 

Sec.  10.  The  registers  of  electors  shall  be  placed  in  charge 
of  such  member  of  the  board  at  the  end  of  each  day,  as  the  board 
shall  designate,  and  at  the  close  of  the  session  on  the  last  day 
of  registration  shall  be  deposited  in  the  office  of  the  City  Clerk, 
and  when  not  in  thecofficial  use  of  the  registrars  or  other  persons 
lawfully  entitled  to  the  use  and  custpdy  thereof,  they  shall  at  all 
times  be  deposited  and  locked  up  in  the  office  of  the  City  Clerk, 
but  subject  to  be  produced  for  inspection  at  all  proper  times. 

Sec.  11.  In  addition  to  the  other  questions,  which  will  be  put 
to  applicants  desiring  to  be  registered,  the  board  shall  require 
such  applicant  to  answer,  under  oath,  as  to  whether  he  has  been 


Manner  of 
closing  each 
day’s  regis- 
tration. 


Custody  of 
registers. 


Removals 
and  re-regis- 
tration. 


18 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


registered  in  any  other  district,  and  if  it  appears  that  he  has 
been  so  registered,  they  shall  decline  to  enter  his  name  on  the 
register  until  he  shall  produce  a “removal  certificate”  as  herein- 
before provided,  and  any  elector  who,  being  duly  registered  in 
the  district  where  he  then  resided,  shall  remove  into  another 
district  in  the  same  city,  may  apply  in  person  to  the  regitsrars 
of  his  previous  district  for  a “removal  certificate,”  and  the  same 
shall  be  made  and  signed  by  them,  certifying  his  Said  registra- 
tion, with  all  its  particulars,  as  shown  on  their  registers,  but 
adding  his  statement  of  the  new  residence  and  district  to  which 
he  has  removed.  They  shall  then  immediately  cancel  his  regis- 
tration on  their  registers  and  list  of  electors  by  drawing  double 
lines  in  ink  through  the  same  and  noting  his  “removal,”  and  the 
ward  and  district  to  which  he  has  removed  in  the  column  of 
“remarks,”  but  such  note  must  be  subscribed  in  the  register  by 
one  of  the  registrars.  And  when  by  mistake  a qualified  elector 
has  caused  himself  to  be  registered  in  a district  which  was  not 
his  place  of  residence,  the  registrars  therein,  on  full  and  satis- 
factory proof  that  such  error  was  committed  by  mistake,  and 
without  fraud  or  any  unlawful  intent,  may,  on  his  personal  ap- 
plication and  proof  of  his  true  residence,  give  him  a similar 
certificate  as  in  case  of  removal,  and  cancel  his  registration  in 
the  same  manner  on  their  registers  and  list  of  electors.  And  the 
certificate  in  case  of  removal,  or  mistake,  so  granted,  shall,  ff 
presented  in  due  time  to  the  registrars  of  the  district  where  such 
person  so  certified  lawfully  resides,  and  *proper  proof  thereof 
made  to  them,  entitle  such  persons  to  be  registered  therein  as 
herein  provided.  But  in  all  cases  where  registration  is  made 
upon  certificates  from  the  board  of  registration  of  other  districts, 
such  certificates  must  be  retained  by  the  board  to  whom  it  is 
presented  and  returned  by  them  to  the  office  of  the  City  Clerk; 
such  certificate  shall  be  signed,  in  order  to  be  of  any  validity,  by 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


19 


at  least  one  of  the  registrars  of  the  district  in  which  the  regis- 
tration is  first  made.  No  person  shall  be  registered  upon  pro- 
duction of  any  such  removal  certificate  unless  and  until  he  shall 
have  satisfied  the  board  of  registration,  to  whom  he  shall  have 
presented  such  certificate,  that  he  is  a qualified  elector  and  en- 
titled to  be  registered  in  such  district,  and  such  “removal  cer- 
tificate” shall  not  be  deemed  evidence  of  his  qualification  as  an 
elector  in  such  district. 

Sec.  12.  At  the  close  of  the  registration  on  the  last  day  of 
the  sessions  of  said  board,  said  district  board  of  registration 
shall  make  out  in  books  to  be  prepared,  furnished  to  them 
by  said  City  Clerk,  a list  of  all  the  registered  electors  in  their 
district,  whether  registered  by  them  or  by  any  preceding  board, 
as  herein  provided,  arranged  alphabetically  in  the  order  of 
their  surnames,  followed  by  their  full  chistian  name,  ages 
and  residences,  as  registered  and  the  registered  number  of 
each  prefixed.  The  books  to  be  prepared  for  this  purpose 
shall  be  ruled  in  columns  with  printed  headings,  as  follows,  viz.: 

Registry  number name  age  

residence  voted  November  18 

sworn  voted  April  18 sworn 

voted sworn 

remarks  

These  said  lists  shall  be  carefully  compared  by  the  registrars  of 
each  district  with  the  registers  thereof,  and  they  shall  then 
attach  thereto  a certificate  as  follows:  “We,  the  undersigned, 
members  of  the  district  board  of  registration  of  electors,  in 

district ward  of  the  City 

of  Detroit,  do  certify  that  the  foregoing  list  is  a true  and  correct 
copy  of  the  names,  ages,  residences,  and  registry  numbers,  and 
of  any  entries  in  the  column  of  “remarks”  opposite  such  names 
on  the  registers  of  said  district  of  all  persons  who  have  been 


Board  to 
make  and 
compare  lists 
of  electors. 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


To  certify 
list. 


Spring 

Registration. 


When  Regis- 
tration to 
be  held. 


Board  to  re- 
view and  com- 
plete the  list 
of  voters. 


registered  as  residents  and  qualified  electors  in  said  district, 

dated  this  day  of in 

the  year  hundred  and  and 

which  certificate  shall  then  be  signed  by  all  the  members  of  said 
district  board,  and  said  list  shall  be  delivered,  together  with  the 
register  of  electors  of  said  district  to  the  City  Clerk  for  use  by 
the  board  of  inspectors  at  the  election  held  in  the  fall  of  the 
year  and  in  the  year  following  until  a new  list  be  made  at  the 
registration  made  in  the  month  of  September.  At  the  registra- 
tion made  in  the  spring  of  the  year  and  at  any  registration  pre- 
ceding a special  election,  the  board  of  registrars  will  complete 
said  list  by  adding  thereto  the  names  of  any  qualified  electors 
registered  by  them,  said  names  to  be  entered  in  the  same  man- 
ner, and  there  shall  be  annexed  thereto  a like  certificate  as  is 
required  as  above  provided  to  be  made  by  the  registrars  at  the 
fall  registration.  Said  list  shall  be  known  and  marked  as  the 

“election  list  of  electors”  for  the  district, 

ward  (naming  the  district  and  ward).  Any 

entries  in  the  column  of  “remarks”  set  opposite  any  name  in  the 
register  shall  be  copied  into  the  like  column  in  the  list  of 
electors. 

Sec.  13.  On  the  first  Monday  in  March  preceding  the  elec- 
tion held  in  April,  and  on  the  third  Monday  of  September  and 
the  following  Tuesday  preceding  the  biennial  election  held  in 
November,  and  on  the  third  Monday  of  September  and  the  fol- 
lowing Tuesday  and  Wednesday  of  the  year  in  which  a presi- 
dential election  is  held,  the  district  boards  of  registration  shall 
be  in  session  in  their  respective  districts  at  such  places  as  shall 
be  designated  in  the  notice  of  registration  to  be  published  by  the 
City  Clerk  as  hereinafter  provided  from  eight  o’clock  in  the 
forenoon  (standard  time)  until  eight  thirty  o’clock  in  the  even- 
ing (standard  time)  of  each  of  said  days  without  intermission. 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


21 


At  such,  sessions  of  such  district  board,  they  shall  review  and 
complete  the  list  of  qualified  voters  for  such  district.  Such 
registration  shall  be  made  in  the  “register  of  electors”  for  such 
district  and  shall  be  made  in  the  manner  provided  in  this  act 
for  a general  registration  of  electors  in  every  fourth  year.  And 
all  the  provisions  of  law  in  relation  to  receiving  applicants  for 
registration,  and  the  registration  of  such  applicants,  shall  be 
held  applicable  to,  and  govern  the  registration  in  such  interme- 
diate years.  On  reviewing  the  list  of  electors  appearing  upon 
such  register,  if  it  shall  be  known  to  the  board  that  any  person 
whose  name  appears  therein  is  dead,  or  has  removed  from  the 
city,  they  shall  enter  the  word  “dead”  or  “removed  from  the 
city”  opposite  such  name  in  the  column  headed  “remarks,”  and 
they  may  further  draw  a line  in  red  ink  through  such  name.  They 
shall  also,  opposite  such  entry  in  said  column  of  remarks,  enter 
the  date  of  entry  and  the  name  of  the  registrar  making  it,  so  as 
to  show  when  and  by  whom  made,  and  therefore  such  name  shall 
be  considered  erased  and  treated  as  no  longer  in  the  register; 
but  if  it  shall  happen  that  such  entry  is  erroneously  made  and 
such  person  shall  thereafter  appear  arid  claim  the  right  to  be 
again  registered,  he  may.  be  registered  by  the  board  of  registra- 
tion, in  the  same  manner  as  though  his  name  had  never  been 
erased,  or  if  he  shall  appear  at  an  election  and  claim  the  right  to 
vote  thereat,  his  name  may,  on  his  application  be  again  regis- 
tered upon  the  following  terms:  he  shall  upon  his  examination 
on  his  oath  or  affirmation,  which  any  member  of  the  board  of 
inspectors  may  administer,  declare  that  he  is  the  identical  per- 
son whose  name  was  so  registered  and  erased  and  that  he  is  a 
qualified  voter  and  entitled  to  vote;  and  upon  making  such  oath 
or  affirmation  the  board  of  inspectors  being  'satisfied  that  he  is 
a duly  qualified  elector,  his  name  may  be  registered  in  the  man- 
ner above  described,  by  a member  of  the  board  of  inspectors, 


Provisions  of 
general  laws 
relative  to 
applicants  for 
registration 
applicable. 


Record  of 
“Deaths’'  and 
“Removals.” 


Erroneous 
entry  of 
“Death”  or 
“Removal,” 
how  corrected. 


22 

REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 

Penalty  for 
false 

swearing. 

and  by  its  order  the  proper  entries  being  entered  in  the  proper 

register,  under  the  appropriate  heading  and  the  name  and  resi- 
dence of  such  person  entered  in  the  list  made  by  the  board  of 

registration  for  the  use  of  said  board  of  inspectors,  as  above 

provided,  and  in  the  column  of  remarks  in  the  “register  of  elect- 
ors” there  shall  be  entered  opposite  such  name  the  words  “Reg- 
istered by  inspectors,”  followed  by  the  signature  of  one  of  the 

board  of  inspectors.  And  if  such  applicant  shall  affirm  or  swear 

falsely  he  shall  be  liable  to  the  pains  and  penalties  of  perjury 

and  if  any  entry  shall  be  made  falsely  and  maliciously  and  with- 
out credible  information,  indicating  in  said  register  that  any 

person  is  dead  or  who  has  removed  from  the  city,  the  member  of 

the  board  making  it,  and  any  other  member  of  the  board  con- 
senting thereto,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  and 

be  punished  as  such;  and  the  party  aggrieved  shall  be  entitled  to 

recover  from  him  or  them  in  an  action  on  the  case,  treble 

When  Re- 
moval Certifi- 
cates to  be 
issued  by 

City  Clerk. 

damages  for  the  injury,  and  treble  costs  of  suit,  in  any  court 

having  jurisdiction  of  the  case,  and  the  record  of  the  defendant’s 

conviction  of  the  criminal  offense,  duly  authenticated,  shall  be 

prima  facie  evidence  of  his  liability.  In  cases  of  special  elections 

held  in  any  ward  or  wards,  and  not  in  the  city  generally,  re- 
moval certificates  provided  by  section  eleven,  shall  be  made  and 

issued  by  the  City  Clerk,  and  he  shall  perform  the  duties  in  such 

case  provided  to  be  done  by  the  registrars  of  the  district  from 

which  the  applicant  shall  have  removed. 

Entries  to  be 
made  in  ink. 

Sec.  14.  All  entries  in  said  register,  and  in  the  election  list  of 

electors,  shall  be  made  in  ink,  and  no  member  of  said  board  of 

registration  shall  write  or  make  any  entry  in  said  register  or  list, 

or  allow  any  other  person  to  do  so,  excepting  the  same  be  per- 
mitted by  law,  and  no  other  person  shall  make  entries,  or  mark 

whatever  therein,  excepting  inspectors  of  election,  as  provided 

by  this  act,  or,  as  may  be  provided  by  the  statutes  of  the  United 

REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


23 


States.  The  registers  and  the  election  list  of  electors  in  the 
office  of  the  City  Clerk  shall  at  all  times  be  open  to  public  inspec- 
tion without  charge.  In  case  the  “register  of  election”  for  any 
district  shall  be  lost  or  destroyed,  or  so  mutilated  that  the  same 
cannot  be  used,  the  common  council  of  said  city  may  direct  the 
board  of  registration  of  the  proper  district  to  make  a new  general 
registration  of  the  electors  in  such  district  at  their  sessions  held 
as  provided  herein,  prior  to  any  election.  Any  such  new  regis- 
tration shall  be  made  in  the  manner  provided  in  this  act  for  a 
general  registration  of  electors  ,and  all  provisions  of  law  in  rela- 
tion to  receiving  applications  for  registration,  and  the  registra- 
tion of  applicants,  shall  be  held  applicable  to  and  govern  the 
registration  provided  by  this  section  to  be  made,  and  an  “election 
list”  of  electors  shall  be  made  by  the  registrars,  in  like  manner 
as  they  are  directed  to  be  made  in  the  case  of  general  regis- 
tration. 

Sec.  15.  At  the  opening  of  the  sessions  of  the  board  in  inter- 
mediate years,  there  shall  be  delivered  to  the  district  boards 
respectively  the  “register  of  electors”  and  the  “election  list”  of 
electors  for  the  year,  by  the  officers  having  custody  thereof,  and 
the  City  Clerk  shall  procure  and  furnish  all  the  necessary  blanks, 
and  he  shall  also  keep  on  hand  in  his  office  blank  affidavits  and 
certificates  required  or  provided  by  this  act  to  be  made.  He 
shall  also  procure  and  furnish  all  necessary  books,  stationery, 
blanks,  seals,  pencils  or  stamps  required  by  this  act  for  the  use 
of  inspectors  of  election  or  electors  in  preparing  their  ballots. 
All  books,  blanks,  printing,  stationery,  and  so  forth,  required  by 
this  act  to  be  furnished  by  the  City  Clerk,  shall  be  procured  by 
him  at  the  expense  of  said  city,  and  the  bills  or  claims  therefor 
shall  be  audited  and  allowed  by  the  common  council. 

Sec.  16.  At  least  seven  days  previous  to  the  commencement 
of  any  session  of  the  district  board  of  registration,  the  City  Clerk, 


Registers  and 
the  election 
lists  to  be  fur- 
nished Board 
at  the  open- 
ing of  its 
session. 


Notice. 


24 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


City  Clerk  to 
deliver  copy 
of  register. 


Compen- 

sation. 


at  the  expense  of  the  city,  shall  cause  a notice  thereof  to  be 
printed  and  published  in  not  to  exceed  two  daily  newspapers  in 
said  city,  designating  the  places  of  holding  the  same,  which 
notice  shall  be  published  not  more  than  three  times  in  each  of 
said  newspapers,  and  shall  also  contain  a true  copy  of  section 
one  of  article  seven  of  the  constitution,  relative  to  the  qualifi- 
cation of  electors. 

Sec.  17.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  City  Clerk,  on  the  demand 
of  any  qualified  elector  of  said  city,  on  payment  or  tender  of  his 
legal  fees,  to  make  out,  certify,  and  at  his  office  deliver  to  such 
elector  a true  copy  of  the  contents  of  any  register  of  electors 
of  any  district  of  said  city,  for  which  he  shall  be  entitled  to 
receive  compensation  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  cents  for  every 
one  hundred  names. 

Sec.  18.  Each  member  of  a district  board  of  registration, 
while  acting  under  this  act,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  four 
dollars  a day  for  every  day  he  shall  actually  serve  in  performing 
his  duties, . to  be  paid  by  the  city,  and  he  shall  not  be  entitled 
to  receive  for  such  services  any  other  sum  whatever.  The  two 
members  of  the  district  board  of  registration  who  were  appointed 
by  the  common  council,  as  provided  by  an  amendment  to  this 
chapter,  approved  March  fifth,  eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-five, 
together  with  a chairman  to  be  designated  by  the  common  coun- 
cil, as  now  provided  by  law,  shall  constitute  such  district  board 
of  registration,  and  complete  the  registration  of  electors  at  the 
registration  to  be  held  in  the  month  of  October  respectively  in 
the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-five.  The  present  regis- 
tration books  shall  continue  to  be  used  and  electors  registered 
therein  until  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and  ninety-six,  when  the 
form  of  registration  provided  by  this  act,  and  the  provisions  of 
this  act  relative  to  registration  therein  shall  be  held  to  apply  and 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


25 


govern.  Until  the  form  of  register  herein  prescribed  is  used,  it 
shall  not  be  necessary  to  observe  the  requirements  of  subdi- 
visions three,  four,  five,  six,  seven  and  nine  of  section  eight.  In 
all  other  respects,  including  the  preparation  and  use  of  the  elec- 
tion list  of  electors,  the  provisions  of  this  act  in  respect  to  regis- 
tration shall  be  held  applicable  to  all  future  registration  of  elec- 
tors in  said  city,  but  it  shall  not  be  necessary  until  the  form  of 
register  herein  prescribed  is  used  to  enter  or  copy  from  the 
register  to  the  election  list  of  electors  any  registry  numbers ; 
Provided,  That  in  all  new  districts  formed  by  the  division  of 
existing  districts  or  otherwise,  the  form  of  register  herein  pre- 
scribed shall  be  used. 

Sec.  19.  Women  who  reside  in  the  district,  who,  if  they  were 
males,  would  be  qualified  electors  therein,  may  be  registered  at 
the  registration  immediately  preceding  the  election  held  for  the 

choosing  of  school  inspectors,  but  they  shall  be  registered  in  a 
separate  register  of  the  form  herein  prescribed,  and  all  the  pro- 
visions of  this  act,  so  far  as  they  may  be  relevant,  shall  apply  to 
and  govern  such  registration.  The  names  of  women  who  may 
be  registered  shall  be  entered  on  the  list  of  electors  for  the  dis- 
trict, but  separated  from  the  names  of  the  male  electors. 

Sec.  20.  On  Monday,  the  day  preceding  the  November  elec- 
tion, in  every  year,  and  on  Saturday  preceding  the  biennial 
spring  election,  the  registrars  at  each  and  every  election  district 
shall  meet  at  two  o’clock  in'  the  afternoon  at  the  polling  place 
appointed  for  holding  elections  therein,  and  therein  remain  in 
session  until  nine  o’clock  in  the  evening.  Such  meetings  shall 
be  held  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  and  acting  upon  any  appli- 
cation for  either  granting  or  receiving  certificates  of  removal, 
and  for  the  purpose  of  correcting  any  mistakes  as  herein  pro- 
vided for,  and  for  the  purpose  of  registering  qualified  voters  who 


Registration 
of  Women. 


Registrars  to 
meet  for  the 
purpose  of 
acting  upon 
applications 
for  certifi- 
cates and  to 
register  ab- 
sentees. 


26 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


may  have  been  absent  from  said  city  or  sick  on  the  days  ap- 
pointed for  registration  as  hereinafter  provided.  No  new  names 
shall  he  placed  on  the  register  at  such  meeting,  excepting  upon 
certificates  of  removal  from  some  other  districts,  or  of  voters 
who  may  have  been  sick  or  absent,  as  hereinafter  provided.  If 
any  material  error  or  mistake  in  the  description  of  any  elector  in 
said  district  has  been  discovered,  he  may  appear  at  the  meeting 
and  on  good  cause  being  shown  the  registrars  may  then  correct 
the  same,  but  any  change  in  the  register  which  shall  be  allowed 
by  the  registrars  at  such  meeting  must  be  immediately  noted 
by  them  in  the  register  and  also  in  the  book  containing  the 
election  list  for  the  use  of  the  inspectors  of  election,  as  above 
provided,  and  if  not  then  those  so  noted  shall  be  wholly  null,  and 
disregarded  by  the  inspectors  of  election.  At  such  meeting  said 
board  may  register  any  qualified  voter  of  such  district  upon  the 
personal  application  of  such  person,  whom  they  may  require  to 
state  in  writing  that  he  was  necessarily  and  unavoidably  absent 
from  said  city  on  all  the  days  appointed  or  allowed  by  this  act 
for  the  registration  of  electors  immediately  preceding  said  elec- 
tion, specifying  the  same  and  the  business  in  which  he  was  en- 
gaged, or  that  he  was  sick,  and  by  reason  thereof  was  unable  to 
attend  the  sessions  of  the  district  board  of  electors  of  the  district 
as  aforesaid  for  the  registration  of  electors,  which  statement 
shall  be  subscribed  and  sworn  to  by  said  applicant  before  one  of 
said  registrars,  each  of  whom  shall  have  authority  to  administer 
such  oaths.  Said  registrar  shall  require  such  applicant  to 
answer  under  oath  all  proper  questions  which  it  shall  be  their 
duty  to  put,  touching  his  residence  and  other  qualifications  as  an 
elector  of  the  district  in  which  he  asked  to  be  registered,  and 
such  other  matters  as  are  required  to  be  entered  in  said  register, 
and  if  satisfied  that  such  applicant  is  a resident  of  such  district, 
and  that  he  is  qualified  to  vote  therein,  but  not  otherwise,  said 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


27 


registrars  shall  enter  said  applicant  as  registered  in  the  register 
of  said  district  and  in  the  election  list  of  electors.  The  registrars 
may  at  such  meeting  register  upon  certificates  of  removal  any 
elector  then  resident  of  said  district,  in  the  same  manner  as 
herein  provided  for  registration  of  like  applicants  on  the  days 
appointed  for  holding  of  the  other  sessions  of  said  board.  At 
such  meeting  held  under  the  provisions  of  this  section,  any 
elector  may  appear  and  challenge  the  vote  of  any  person  named 
in  the  register  of  such  district,  and  the  word  “challenge”  shall 
be  immediately  entered  by  the  registrars  opposite  the  name  of 
such  person  in  the  list  of  electors,  and  if  he  shall  offer  to  vote 
at  any  election,  the  inspector  of  election  shall  at  such  time  ex- 
amine him  under  oath  as  to  his  qualifications  as  elector  in  such 
precinct,  and  they  shall  also  make  a like  examination  of  any 
other  person  named  in  said  list  and  opposite  whose  name  the 
word  “challenge”  is  written,  the  same  in  all  respects  and  with 
like  effect  as  though  they  had  been  challenged  at  the  election  by 
a challenger  thereof.  On  Monday  in  each  year  preceding  the 
November  election,  and  on  the  Saturday  preceding  the  biennial 
spring  election,  and  on  the  secular  day  next  preceding  any 
special  election,  the  district  registrars  of  election  and  the  three 
inspectors  of  election  for  each  district  shall  meet  at  the  polling 
place  appointed  for  holding  the  election  therein,  at  eight  o’clock 
in  the  evening  punctually,  and  then  and  there  organize  as  a board 
of  inspectors  of  election,  and  the  members  of  said  district  board 
of  registration  and  the  three  inspectors  of  election  and  their 
successors  in  office  shall  constitute  the  board  of  inspectors  for 
such  district.  They  shall  at  this  meeting  make  all  necessary 
arrangements  for  the  proper  accommodation  of  themselves  and 
the  clerks  of  election  in  receiving  and  calling  ballots  at  the  en- 
suing election,  and  for  the  witnesses  and  challengers  designated 
as  hereinafter  provided  to  be  admitted  within  the  polling  rooms, 


Organization 
of  Board  of 
Inspectors. 


28 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


Inspectors  of 
Election. 


Term  of 
office. 


Vacancies, 
how  filled. 


Inspectors, 
how  elected. 


Clerks. 


Who  shall  be 
Chairman. 


and  at  such  meeting  they  shall  appoint  two  clerks  of  election  for 
the  ensuing  election. 

Sec.  21.  There  shall  be  elected  in  and  for  each  election  dis- 
trict of  the  City  of  Detroit,  at  the  next  November  election  fol- 
lowing the  time  when  this  act  shall  take  effect,  and  annually 
hereafter,  three  qualified  electors  of  such  district,  who,  together 
with  the  three  registrars  of  electors,  shall  constitute  a board  of 
inspectors  of  election  for  such  election  district.  Such  inspectors 
shall  be  elected  by  ballot,  and  upon  being  so  elected  they  shall 
qualify  by  filing  with  the  City  Clerk  the  constitutional  oath  of 
office  and  shall  hold  their  said  office  for  one  year  from  the 
first  day  of  January  next  after  their  election,  and  until  their 
successors  are  elected  and  qualified,  and  any  vacancy  in  their 
number  caused  by  failure  to  elect  by  ballot,  as  hereinafter  pro- 
vided, or  inability  to  act  by  removal,  death  or  other  cause,  or 
by  any  refusal  to  serve  of  the  person  so  elected,  may  be  filled 
for  the  remainder  of  said  term  by  the  electors  present,  by  viva 
voce  vote,  at  the  opening  of  the  polls  at  any  general  or  special 
election,  and  if  any  of  the  said  inspectors  be  sick  or  absent  his 
place  may,  in  like  manner,  be  filled  for  the  time  being  upon  the 
opening  of  the  polls  at  any  general  or  special  election. 

Sec.  22.  In  all  elections  for  inspectors  to  be  elected  as  above 
provided,  no  elector  shall  vote  for  more  than  two  candidates, 
and  from  the  whole  number  of  votes  cast  the  three  inspectors 
receiving  the  largest  number  shall  be  elected.  The  votes  shall 
be  determined  as  in  case  of  election  of  other  city  officers. 

Sec.  23.  The  board  of  inspectors,  shall,  as  above  provided, 
appoint  two  clerks  of  election  who  shall  take  the  same  oath  as 
the  inspectors,  which  oath  either  of  the  inspectors  may  admin- 
ister. The  chairman  of  the  board  of  registration  shall  also  be 
chairman  of  the  said  board  of  inspectors.  In  all  cases  of  filling 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


29 


of  vacancy,  or  vacancies,  by  viva  voce  vote  of  the  electors  under 
this  act,  the  chairman  or  any  member  of  the  board  appointed 
by  the  board  for  that  purpose,  when  the  time  for  opening  the 
polls  has  arrived,  shall  announce  such  opening  of  the  polls,  and 
that  it  was  necessary  to  fill  such  vacancy,  whereupon  the  quali- 
fied electors  present  may  proceed  to  nominate  and  elect  a suit- 
able person  or  persons  to  fill  such  vacancy  or  vacancies,  and  the 
person  or  persons  so  chosen  shall  take  the  oath  of  office  which 
either  of  said  inspectors  or  any  person  authorized  to  administer 
oaths,  may  administer,  and  he  shall  thereupon  take  his  seat  and 
act  as  a member  of  said  board;  the  oath  of  office  shall  be  sub- 
scribed by  the  person  taking  the  same,  and  the  officer  administer- 
ing the  oath  shall  file  it  in  the  office  of  the  City  Clerk  after  the 
close  of  the  election.  The  inspectors  so  chosen  aforesaid,  to- 
gether with  the  registrars  for  the  district,  shall  constitute  the 
board  of  inspectors  of  election  for  such  district. 

Sec.  24.  No  person  shall  be  permitted  to  vote  unless  he  shall 
be  a resident  of  the  district  and  he  shall  have  resided  in  this 
state  six  months  next  preceding  the  election,  and  in  the  ward 
twenty  days  next  preceding  the  election,  and  shall  possess  the 
other  qualifications  specified  in  section  one,  article  seven,  of  the 
constitution  of  this  state.  And  in  determining  the  residence  of 
a person  offering  to  vote  or  to  register,  the  following  general 
rules,  so  far  as  applicable,  shall  govern. 

First.  The  place  shall  be  considered  the  residence  of  the 
person  in  which  his  habitation  is  fixed,  and  to  which,  whenever 
he  is  absent,  he  has  the  intention  of  returning. 

Second.  A person  shall  not  be  considered  to  have  lost  his 
residence  who  leaves  his  home  and  goes  into  another  state  or 
place  for  temporary  purposes  merely,  with  the  intention  of  re- 
turning. 


Vacancy  in 
Board  of  In- 
spectors and 
how  filled. 


Residence. 


30 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


Third.  A person  shall  not  be  considered  to  have  gained  a 
residence  in  any  district  into  which  he  comes  for  temporary 
purposes  merely,  without  the  intention  of  making  such  district 
his  home.  If  a person  removes  to  another  state  with  an  intention 
of  making  it  his  permanent  residence,  he  shall  be  considered  fo 
have  lost  his  residence  in  this  state. 

Fourth.  If  a person  removes  to  another  state  with  an  inten- 
tion t>f  remaining  there  an  indefinite  time,  and  a place  of  present 
residence,  he  shall  be  considered  to  have  lost  his  residence  in 
this  state,  notwithstanding  he  may  maintain  an  intention  to  re- 
turn at  some  future  period. 

Fifth.  If  a person  go  into  another  state,  and  while  there  ex- 
ercise the  right  of  a citizen  by  voting,  he  shall  be  considered  to 
have  lost  his  residence  in  this  state. 

Sixth.  A person  must  not  be  held  to  have  gained  or  lost  a 
residence  by  reason  of  his  presence  or  absence  from  a place 
while  employed  in  the  service  of  the  United  States  or  of  this 
state  nor  while  engaged  in  navigation,  nor  while  a student  in  any 
institution  of  learning,  nor  while  kept  in  an  alms  house,  asylum 
or  prison. 

Seventh.  The  place  where  the  family  of  a married  man  re- 
sides shall  be  considered  and  held  to  be  the  place  of  his  resi- 
dence, except  where  the  wife  and  husband  have  separated  and 
lived  apart,  then  the  place  where  they  resided  at  the  time  of  the 
separation  shall  be  considered  there  to  be  his  place  of  residence, 
unless  he  afterward,  and  during  the  time  of  such  separation, 
remove  from  such  place,  in  which  case  the  ward  in  which  he 
resides  the  length  of  time  required  by  the  provisions  of  this  sec- 
tion to  entitle  a person  to  vote,  shall  be  considered  and  held  to 
be  the  ward  of  his  place  of  residence. 

Eighth.  If  the  place  where  a man’s  family  resides  be  a place 
of  temporary  establishment,  or  for  transient  objects,  it  shall  not 
necessarily  govern  as  his  place  of  residence. 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


31 


Ninth.  The  mere  intention  to  acquire  a new  residence,  with- 
out the  fact  of  removal,  avails  nothing;  neither  does  the  fact  of 
removal  without  the  intention. 

Tenth.  When  a party  takes  his  meals  in  one  place  and  sleeps 
in  another,  the  place  in  which  he  habitually  sleeps  shall  be  his 
place  of  residence,  unless  it  appears  that  he  takes  his  meals 
with  his  family  or  relatives,  or  at  some  place  which  he  considers 
his  home,  and  intends  to  consider  as  such,  and  in  such  case  the 
place  where  he  takes  his  meals  shall  be  his  place  of  residence. 

Eleventh.  The  term  of  residence  must  be  computed  by  in- 
cluding the  day  on  which  the  person’s  residence  commenced,  and 
excluding  the  day  of  election. 

Sec.  25.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Common  Council  of  said 
city  to  select  and  secure  suitable  places  for  holding  in  each 
election  district  the  session  of  the  district  board  of  registration 
of  electors,  and  in  like  manner  to  select  and  secure  places  in 
the  several  election  districts  for  holding  elections.  The  Common 
Council  may  cause  temporary  structures  suitable  for  the  purpose 
to  be  constructed,  and  for  that  purpose  may  occupy  temporarily 
portions  of  the  highway  as  sites  for  such  structures.  Places 
for  registration  shall  be  selected  before  the  time  when  the  City 
Clerk  is  required  to  publish  notice  of  the  places  of  which  the 
several  boards  of  registration  will  hold  their  sessions,  and  a 
like  designation  of  the  places  for  holding  the  election  will  be 
made  before  the  time  when  the  City  Clerk  is  required  to  publish 
notice  of  such  election,  and  the  City  Clerk  in  his  notice  of  the 
sessions  of  such  boards  of  registration,  and  in  his  notices  of  the 
holding  the  election,  will  designate  the  places  so  selected  as  the 
places  of  said  sessions  and  holding  the  elections  respectively. 
The  expense  of  procuring  said  places  or  erecting  temporary 
structures  or  booths  for  the  purposes  mentioned  and  of  the  neces- 


Places  for 
holding  regis- 
trations and 
elections. 


32 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


Where  regis- 
trations and 
elections  shall 
not  be  held. 


Wine,  beer, 
spirituous  or 
malt  liquors 
unlawful. 


sary  furniture,  heating  and  lighting,  may  be  paid  from  the  gen- 
eral or  contingent  fund  as  the  Council  may  determine,  or  from 
a fund  specially  raised  for  that  purpose.  No  board  of  regis- 
tration shall  hold  its  sessions  nor  shall  any  election  be  held  in 
any  saloon  or  bar-room,  or  in  any  place  where  wine,  beer  or  any 
spirituous  liquors  are  sold,  or  in  any  room  or  place  connected 
therewith,  nor  shall  a-ny  such  place  be  selected  or  designated, 
and  should  any  place  be  designated  or  appointed  for  holding  a 
session  of  the  board  of  registration  or  for  holding  an  election 
in  violation  hereof,  or  become  subject  to  such  interdiction  after 
having  been  so  designated,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  board  of 
registration  on  or  before  the  commencement  of  their  session, 
and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  inspectors  of  election  on  or  before 
the  day  of  such  election,  and  before  the  opening  of  the  polls  on 
such  day,  to  procure  a suitable  place  as  near  thereto  as  may  be 
not  subject  to  like  interdiction.  The  board  of  registration  shall 
cause  notices  to  be  posted  up  in  a conspicuous  place  at  the  place 
designated  by  the  Common  Council  of  such  change,  and  shall 
thereupon  proceed  and  hold  their  sessions  at  the  place  designated 
in  such  notice  and  procured  by  them  as  above  provided.  The 
inspectors  of  election  shall  meet  at  the  place  first  designated,  at 
the  time  for  opening  the  polls,  and  after  any  vacancy  in  their 
number  shall  have  been  filled,  adjourn  to  the  place  chosen  by 
them,  and  at  the  time  of  said  adjournment  give  public  notice  to 
the  electors  present  by  proclamation  of  such  change,  and  of  the 
place  where  such  election  shall  be  held,  and  by  posting  at  such 
place  first  designated  a conspicuous  notice  of  such  change,  and 
all  expense  attending  such  changes  shall  be  certified  by  such 
registrars  or  inspectors  of  said  city  to  the  Common  Council  and 
shall  be  allowed  and  paid  accordingly.  And  it  shall  be  unlawful 
for  any  person  to  take  any  wine  or  beer  or  other  spirituous  or 
malt  liquors  or  cause  the  same  to  be  brought  into  any  room  or 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


33 


apartment  at  which  sessions  of  any  board  of  registration  may  be 
held  during  the  session  thereof,  or  into  any  room  or  apartment 
used  as  a place  for  the  marking,  casting  or  receiving  or  for  the 
counting  of  votes  at  any  election,  from  the  opening  of  the  polls 
to  and  including  the  canvass  of  the  votes  and  completion  of  the 
returns  thereof,  or  to  have,  partake  of,  or  drink  in  any  such 
room  or  apartment  during  the  session  of  suCh  board  of  registra- 
tion or  during  the  holding  of  such  election,  and  the  canvass  of 
votes  as  aforesaid,  any  spirituous  or  malt  liquors  whatever,  or 
for  any  registrar,  inspector  or  clerk  of  election,  or  any  gate- 
keeper, challenger  or  witness  appointed  as  provided  by  this  act 
to  become  drunk  or  intoxicated  during  the  session  of  said  board 
of  registration  or  during  any  cf  the  time  of  the  holding  of  said 
elections  and  canvass  of  votes  as  aforesaid;  any  person  violating 
the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a mis- 
demeanor. 

Sec.  2G.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  City  Clerk,  at  least  seven 
days  before  any  election,  to  give  notice  thereof  in  not  to  exceed 
two  daily  newspapers  published  in  said  city,  which  notice  shall 
be  published  not  more  than  three  times  in  each  of  said  news- 
papers. The  notice  shall  specify  the  officers  to  be  chosen,  the 
day  on  which  the  election  is  to  be  held,  the  time  for  opening 
the  polls,  and  the  place  in  each  election  district  where  the 
election  is  to  be  held. 

Sec.  27.  The  City  Clerk,  Corporation  Counsel  and  City  Treas- 
urer shall  constitute  a board  of  election  commissioners  for  said 
city,  two  of  whom  shall  constitute  a quorum,  and  they  shall 
choose  their  own  chairman  and  secretary,  and  shall  severally 
receive  as  a compensation  for  their  services  at  each  election  fifty 
dollars  and  ro  more,  dt  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  board  to  pre- 
pare and  cause  to  be  printed  ballots  for  election  of  all  the  city 


Niotice. 


Election  Com- 
missioners. 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


34 


Ballots. 


Instructions 
„ ' • for  marking 

•5  , ’ >SW' 

' ' *’«*. 


officers  for  whom  the  electors  are  entitled  to  vote,  and  for  all 
proposed  questions  to  be  submitted  by  the  Common  Council  as 
provided  by  this  act,  or  any  other  act  or  acts,  to  the  electors  of 
said  city.  The  candidates  whose  names  shall  be  printed  on  said 
ballots  shall  be  ascertained  and  determined,  and  be  certified  to 
the  board  of  election  commissioners  as  hereinafter  provided. 

Sec.  28.  Every*  ballot  must  be  printed  on  paper  uniform  in 
size,  color,  weight,  texture  and  appearance,  and  shall  not  have 
any  mark  or  thing  on  the  back,  edge  or  outside  thereof,  except 
as  provided  by  this  act,  whereby  it  might  be  distinguished  from 
any  other  ballot,  or  so  that  it  can  be  ascertained  by  what  person 
or  what  class  of  persons  they  were  used  or  voted,  and  they  shall 
not  contain  any  mark,  color  or  device  on  the  face  of  the  ballot 
by  which  one  ballot  may  be  distinguished  from  another  when 
folded. 

Ballots  shall  be  printed  substantially  in  the  form  and  as  pre* 
scribed  by  the  general  election  laws  of  this  State  for  the  election 
of  State  and  county  officers,  excepting  that  the  instructions 
printed  on  the  ballot  shall  be  as  follows:  “Instructions:  Mark 
a cross  [X]  in  the  square  under  the  name  of  your  party  at  the 
head  of  the  ballot.  If  you  desire  to  vote  a straight  ticket  noth- 
ing further  need  to  be  done.  If  you  do  not  desire  to  vote  for 
any  candidate  under  the  name  of  your  party  erase  the  name  of 
such  candidate.  If  you  desire  to  vote  for  a candidate  on  a dif- 
ferent ticket,  make  a cross  in  the  square  before  the  name  of  the 
candidate  you  desire  to  vote  for,  or  write  his  name  in  the  space 
under  the  name  erased.  A ticket  marked  with  a cross  under 
the  party  name  will  be  deemed  a vote  for  each  of  the  candidates 
named  in  such  party  column,  unless  you  erase  the  name  of  some 
candidate  in  that  column  or  mark  a cross  before  the  name  of  a 
candidate  in  some  other  column.  If  the  name  of  a candidate  in 
some  other  column  is  marked  with  a cross  it  will  be  deemed  a 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


35 


vote  for  such  candidate.  Before  leaving  the  booth  fold  the  ballot 
so  that  the  initials  of  the  inspector  may  be  seen  on  the  outside.” 
At  the  top  of  the  ballot,  for  city,  ward  or  district  officers,  should 
be  printed  the  words  “City  Ticket,”  followed  by  the  number  of 
the  ward  and  district  in  pica  type.  It  shall  be  the  duty  and  the 
privilege  of  the  respective  city  committees  of  the  different  polit- 
ical organizations  to  furnish  the  election  commissioners  the 
names  of  the  candidates  of  their  political  organization  to  be  voted 
for  at  the  then  next  election,  and  to  designate  the  name  of  the 
party  or  political  organization  which  they  represent,  and  such 
names  shall  be  furnished  and  name  designated  not  less  than 
seven  days  before  such  election.  The  names  so  furnished  should 
be  those  of  all  candidates  nominated  at  any  regular  called  con- 
vention or  caucus  at  which  candidates  for  any  of  the  offices  re- 
quired to  be  selected  shall  be  nominated,  and  no  other  names  un- 
less authorized  or  instructed  by  said  convention  or  caucus.  All  the 
names  of  parties  so  nominated  shall  be  certified  to  by  the  chair- 
man and  secretary  of  the  respective  city  committees  of  their  po- 
litical organization.  No  vignette  shall  be*  furnished  or  printed  on' 
any  ballot.  The  printed  copy  of  the  ballot  shall  be  open  to  the  in- 
spection of  and  correction  by  the  chairman  of  each  committee 
furnishing  the  names  of  candidates  and  of  and  by  any  candidate 
known  thereon,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  election  commis- 
sioners to  correct  such  errors  which  may  be  found  therein  by 
such  inspectors.  The  election  commissioners  shall  cause  the 
names  of  all  candidates  for  the  various  offices  provided  by  this 
act  to  be  voted  for  at  any  election  and  certified  as  provided 
herein,  to  be  printed  on  one  ballot;  all  nominations  of  any  party 
to  be  placed  under  the  title  or  heading  designated  by  the  city 
committee  as  aforesaid;  they  shall  also  cause  any  proposition  or 
other  question  to  be  submitted  to  the  electors  of  said  city  for 
popular  vote,  to  be  printed  on  the  ballot  as  above  provided.  In 


City  Com- 
mittee to 
furnish 
names  of 
candidates. 


:t(i 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


How  to 
Vote  on 
Propositions. 


case  of  the  death,  removal  or  withdrawal  of  any  candidate,  after 
the  printing  of  such  ballots  and  before  the  day  of  election,  the 
chairman  of  the  city  committee  of  the  political  party  to  which 
said  candidate  belongs  shall  transmit  to  the  election  commission- 
ers the  name  of  the  person  so  selected  by  such  party  to  fill  such 
vacancy,  and  said  commissioners  shall  provide  the  election  board 
of  each  district  in  which  such  candidate  is  to  be  voted  for  with 
a number  of  pasters  containing  only  the  name  of  such  new  can- 
didate, at  least  equal  to  the  number  of  ballots  provided  for  such 
district,  but  no  paster  shall  be  given  or  received  by  any  one  ex- 
cept such  election  board,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  board 
of  inspectors  of  election  to  put  one  of  such  pasters  in  a careful 
and  proper  manner  in  the  proper  place  on  each  ballot  before  it 
shall  be  given  to  any  elector  for  the  purpose  of  voting.  If  the 
death,  removal  or  withdrawal  shall  occur  before  the  printing  of 
the  ballot,  the  necessary  change  in  such  ballot  shall  be  made 
by  the  commissioners,  having  been  communicated  by  the  proper 
committee  of  the  political  organizations  to  which  such  candi- 
dates belong.  The  use  of  slips  or  pasters,  excepting  as  pro- 
vided by  this  section,  is  forbidden,  and  any  ballot  containing 
such  slips  or  pasters,  excepting  as  herein  provided,  shall  be 
rejected. 

Sec.  29.  When  any  proposition  is  to  be  submitted  to  the 
electors  in  said  city  by  the  Common  Council,  or  by  any  provisions 
of  law,  it  shall  be  printed  upon  the  ballot  immediately  following 
the  names  of  candidates  for  office;  the  proposition  shall  be  stated 
and  followed  by  the  word  “Yes,”  opposite  which  will  be  placed 
a square  similar  to  those  opposite  the  names  of  candidates  for 
offices,  and  then  repeated,  followed  by  the  word  “No”  and  a 
similar  square,  and  any  voter  desiring  to  vote  affirmatively  or 
negatively  may  put  a cross  in  one  of  the  said  squares,  and  the 


REGISTRATION  and  elections. 


37 


ballot  shall  be  counted  affirmatively  or  negatively,  according  to 
the  place  in  which  the  elector  shall  make  such  cross. 


Sec.  30.  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  person  to  print,  issue, 
distribute  or  circulate  in  said  City  of  Detroit,  or  to  request  or 


Punishment 
for  using 
ballots 
illegally. 


cause  any  other  person  to  print,  issue  or  circulate,  or  request  any 


elector  to  vote  any  ballot,  or  to  vote  any  ballot,  excepting  such 


ballot  for  the  election  of  city  officers  as  shall  have  been  printed 


under  the  authority  of  this  act,  or  any  counterfeit  or  imitation 
of  such  ballots,  and  intended  or  adapted  to  mislead  or  deceive, 
and  any  person  so  offending  shall  on  conviction  thereof  be  pun- 


ished by  a fine,  not  exceeding  one  thousand  dollars  or  less  than 
one  hundred  dollars,  and  by  imprisonment  in  the  Detroit  House 
of  Correction  not  more  than  one  year  or  less  than  thirty  days,  or 
by  both  fine  and  imprisonment. 

Sec.  31.  It  shall  not  be  lawful  for  the  printer  of  such  ballots,  Ballots  to  be 

delivered  to 

or  any  other  person,  to  give  or  deliver  to,  or  knowingly  permit  to  EjecUonf 

Commis- 

be  taken,  any  of  said  ballots  by  any  person  or  persons  other  than  sioners. 
the  board  of  election  commissioners,  or  to  print  or  cause  to  be 
printed  any  ballot  in  any  other  form  than  the  one  prescribed  by 
this  act,  or  with  any  other  name  thereon,  or  with  the  name  mis- 
spelled, or  the  names  thereon  arranged  in  any  other  way  than 
that  authorized  and  directed  by  the  said  election  commissioners, 
and  a violation  of  this  section  shall  be  deemed  a misdemeanor 
and  be  punished  accordingly. 


Sec.  32.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  said  election  commsisioners  Enough 

ballots  to  b* 

to  provide  a sufficient  number  of  ballots,  at  least  two  to  each  8upphed- 
elector  of  any  district,  according  to  the  vote  of  the  last  preceding 
general  election;  there  shall  be  provided  and  delivered  to  the 
board  of  election  inspectors  of  each  voting  district  such  number 
of  bottles  of  ink  and  pens  and  of  German  blue  pencils  for  mark- 
ing ballots  and  writing  names  thereon  as  may  be  necessary. 


38 


registration  and  elections. 


Superintend- 
ent of  Police 
to  keep  ballot 
boxes,  etc. 


The  expense  of  printing  ballots  shall  be  certified  by  the  com- 
missioners and  paid  from  the  same  fund  as  other  election  ex- 
penses. The  necessary  number  of  ballots  shall  be  wrapped  and 
tied  in  packages  and  securely  sealed  with  wax,  and  the  chairman 
of  the  board  of  election  commissioners,  or  some  other  member 
thereof  authorized  by  the  board,  shall  make  and  sign  a certificate 
setting  forth  the  number  of  ballots  in  such  package,  and  that 
such  ballots  were  packed  and  sealed  by  himself  personally, 
which  certificate  shall  be  securely  attached  to  the  package,  and 
for  the  safe  sealing  of  such  ballots  the  commissioners  shall 
provide  themselves  with  a seal  of  such  design  as  they  may 
deem  proper.  Said  packages  shall  not  be  opened  until  delivered 
to  the  board  of  inspectors  of  the  proper  district  which  shall  be 
designated  on  the  package,  when  said  board  shall  be  fully  organ- 
ized and  ready  for  the  reception  of  votes  as  herein  provided. 

Sec.  33.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  superintendent  of  police 
to  see  that  the  ballot  boxes  belonging  to  the  city  are  kept  in 
good  and  suitable  condition,  and  prior  to  every  election  he  shall 
see  that  the  proper  boxes  are  ready  for  use,  and  on  the  day 
before  election  shall  apply  to  the  election  commissioners  for  the 
ballots  printed  as  provided  by  this  act,  and  to  the  board  of  elec- 
tion commissioners  of  the  county  for  the  ballots  prepared  by 
them,  for  use  in  said  city,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  boards 
respectively  to  deliver  the  same  to  him,  and  he  shall  receipt 
therefor.  He  shall  also  receive  from  the  City  Clerk  all  necessary 
stationery,  seals,  blanks,  “register  of  electors,”  poll  books  and 
“election  list  of  electors,”  and  by  safe  and  trusty  messengers 
deliver  the  same  to  the  respective  boards  of  inspectors  of  election 
at  the  polls  at  which  they  are  intended  to  be  used.  Said  super- 
intendent shall  in  like  manner  procure  the  necessary  books, 
blanks  and  stationery  and  deliver  the  same  to  the  respective 
boards  of  registration  at  their  several  sessions,  and  at  the  close 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


39 


of  the  session  of  said  registration  board  and  of  the  sessions  of 
the  board  of  inspectors  shall  receive  all  such  books  and  blanks, 
ballot-boxes  and  ballots,  and  any  other  articles  which  may  not 
have  been  used  or  required,  and  deliver  the  same  to  the  proper 
custodian.  The  said  superintendent  shall  take  a receipt  from 
the  chairman  of  the  board  of  inspectors  for  the  number  of  bal- 
lots delivered  to  the  board  as  indicated  in  the  certificate  of  the 
commissioners  thereto  attached,  and  upon  receiving  the  unused 
ballots  from  the  inspector  shall  carefully  count  and  receipt  for 
the  number  thereof  delivered  to  him  by  said  board,  marking  on 
the  package,  which  shall  be  securely  sealed,  the  number  so  re- 
ceipted for,  and  after  the  receipts  shall  have  been  made  and 
signed  the  package  of  unused  ballots  shall  be  delivered  to  the 
superintendent  of  police,  who  shall  destroy  the  same  after  hav- 
ing made  an  entry  in  a book  kept  by  him  for  the  purpose  of  the 
number  of  ballots  so  returned. 

Sec.  34.  The  Common  Council  shall  provide  for  and  cause  to 
be  erected  in  the  room  where  the  election  is  to  be  held,  a rail- 
ing or  fence  four  feet  in  height,  which  railing  or  fence  shall 
extend  through  and  across  the  room,  and  shall  cause  a gate  to  be 
erected  in  said  railing.  The  gate  shall  be  in  charge  of  a gate- 
keeper appointed  at  the  opening  of  the  polls  by  the  board  of 
election  inspectors,  and  duly  sworn  to  allow  no  person  to  pass 
through  said  gate  and  enter  said  railing,  exoept  to  vote  or  by 
direction  of  the  said  board  of  inspectors,  and  no  other  persons 
excepting  such  as  the  inspectors  are  required  to  admit  within 
the  inclosure  where  they  may  sit,  shall  be  allowed  to  the  inside 
of  the  railing  except  to  vote  or  to  assist  an  elector  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  his  ballot  as  hereinafter  provided,  and  by  direction  of 
said  inspectors,  and  as  soon  as  an  elector  has  voted  he  shall 
retire  without  and  shall  not  again  be  admitted  within  the  railing, 
and  only  as  many  electors  as  there  are  booths  shall  be  allowed 


Common 
Council  to 
provide  regu- 
lation booths. 


Duty  of  Gate- 
keeper. 


40 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


within  the  railing  at  one  and  the  same  time,  and  the  electors 
shall  be  admitted  in  the  order  in  which  they  shall  apply.  Inside 
of  the  railing  a booth  or  temporary  room  shall  be  erected,  and  at 
least  one  such  booth  shall  be  provided  in  each  polling  place  for 
each  one  hundred  persons  entitled  to  vote  thereat,  as  shown  by 
the  last  preceding  registration  of  electors;  such  booth  or  tem- 
porary room  shall  be  built  with  walls  not  less  than  six  feet  high 
and  in  such  a manner  that  the  person  preparing  the  ballot  shall 
be  concealed  from  all  other  persons.  The  passage  way  to  and 
from  the  booths  shall  be  separated  from  the  place  in  which  the 
inspectors  may  sit  by  a railing  three  feet  or  more  in  height, 
to  which,  when  the  elector  offers  his  vote,  he  shall  approach  and 
over  the  same  deliver  his  vote  to  the  inspector  authorized  to 
receive  the  same.  No  person  shall  be  permitted  within  the  in- 
closure within  which  the  inspectors  shall  sit  unless  by  special 
order  of  the  board  of  inspectors,  excepting  such  persons  as  the 
board  are  herein  directed  to  admit  within  the  inclosure. 


Opening  and 
closing  of 
polls. 


Witness  and 
Challenger. 


Sec.  35.  The  polls  of  the  election  shall  be  oren  at  seven 
o’clock,  local  time,  in  the  forenoon,  and  shall  be  continued  open 
until  eight  o’clock,  local  time,  upon  the  evening  of  the  same  day, 
and  no  longer,  nor  shall  an  adjournment  or.  recess  be  taken  from 
the  opening  of  the  polls  until  the  canvass  shall  have  been  com- 
pleted and  the  returns  made  and  signed,  and  delivered  to  the 
proper  inspectors  as  hereinafter  provided.  At  every  election 
the  city  committee  of  any  party  may  by  the  certificate  of  its 
chairman  and  secretary,  in  writing,  signed  by  them,  designate 
not  more  than  one  elector  of  said  city  as  witness,  and  one  other 
elector  as  challenger,  to  attend  at  the  election  in  behalf  of  such 
party  and  its  candidates  whose  names  are  printed  on  the  ticket 
at  each  election  district,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  inspec- 
tors of  election  in  every  election  district  to  admit  the  witnesses 
and  challengers  so  accredited  in  the  inclosure  with  themselves 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


and  the  clerks  at  such  election,  and  place  them  so  near  to  them- 
selves and  the  clerks  that  they  can  fully  and  conveniently  watch 
every  proceeding  of  the.  inspectors  and  clerks  from  the  time  of 
opening  the  polls  until  the  counting,  certifying  and  signing  of 
the  final  returns  of  the  election.  Before  the  opening  of  the  polls 
the  ballot-boxes  shall  be  opened,  if  requested  by  either  of  them, 
so  that  the  inside  and  the  locks  and  keys  may  be  inspected  by 
them.  No  ballot-box  nor  any  ballot  when  taken  from  it  for 
counting  shall  be  removed  or  screened  from  the  constant  sight 
of  such  witnesses  or  challengers  until  the  counting  has  been 
closed  and  the  certificates  of  the  final  return  completed  and 
signed  by  the  inspectors,  and  the  ballot-box  locked  and  sealed. 
The  challengers  so  designated  shall  be  so  placed  that  they  can 
fully  see  and  meet  every  person  offering  a ballot  to  the  inspec- 
tors or  either  of  them.  (As  amended  by  Act  approved  April  16, 
1903.) 

Sec.  36.  At  the  opening  of  the  polls  after  the  organization  of 
and  in  the  presence  of  the  board  of  inspectors,  one  of  the  in- 
spectors shall  open  the  package  of  ballots  in  such  manner  as  to 
preserve  the  seal  intact,  and  if  possible  the  certificates  attached 
thereto;  he  shall  then  deliver  to  one  of  the  inspectors,  to  be 
designated  by  the  board,  fifty  of  the  ballots,  and  shall  place  at 
least  two  German  blue  pencils  for  marking  the  ballots  in  each  of 
the  booths.  The  inspector  so  designated  shall  at  once  proceed 
to  write  his  initials  in  ink  on  the  upper  left-hand  corner  of  the 
back  of  each  of  said  ballots  in  his  ordinary  handwriting,  and 
without  any  distinguishing  mark  of  any  kind.  As  each  succes- 
sive elector  calls  for  a ballot,  another  one  of  the  inspectors  shall 
deliver  to  him  the  first  signed  of  the  fifty  ballots,  and  as  the 
supply  of  ballots  in  the  hands  of  the  inspector  shall  decrease, 
additional  ballots  shall  be  signed  by  the  same  inspector,  so  that 
at  least  twenty-five  ballots  so  signed  shall  be  at  all  times  in  the 
hands  of  the  inspector  delivering  the  ballot  to  the  elector. 


Opening  of 
packages  of 
ballots. 


Pencils  to  be 
placed  in 
booths. 


Inspector  to 
write  his 
initials  on 
ballots. 


42 

REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 

How  ballots 
shall  he 
deposited. 

Sec.  37.  No  ballot  shall  be  deposited  in  the  ballot  box  until 

the  name  of  the  elector  offering  it  and  his  residence  shall  first 

have  been  stated  by  him  and  announced  aloud  by  the  inspector 

holding  the  ballot,  nor  until  the  name  shall  have  been  found  on 

the  election  list  of  electors  and  so  announced  by  the  inspector 

holding  such  list.  Every  ballot  must  be  put  into  the  ballot  box 

by  the  inspector  who  receives  it  from  the  elector,  and  the  ballot 

be  so  held  forth  by  the  inspector  that  it  shall  be  in  full  view  of 

the  elector  until  actually  put  into  the  box,  and  immediately  upon 

depositing  the  ballot  into  the  ballot  box,  the  inspector  or  clerk 

having  charge  of  the  election  list  of  electors  shall  check  off  the 

name  of  such  elector  in  such  list  by  marking  the  word  “voted” 

in  the  proper  column  and  in  the  line  with  the  elector’s  name, 

and  the  name  of  such  elector  entered  on  the  poll  list. 

Challenges. 

Sec.  38.  Any  registered  elector  when  offering  to  vote  may  nev- 
ertheless be  challenged  by  any  elector  or  challenger  as  a non- 
resident, or  for  any  other  causes  allowed  by  law,  and  he  shall 

be  sworn,  and  the  same  proceedings  thereupon  had  as  in  other 

cases  of  challenge;  and  whenever  it  appears  that  the  word 

“challenge”  is  written  opposite  the  name  of  any  elector  in  the 

election  list  of  electors,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  inspector  to 

challenge  such  elector  and  cause  him  to  be  sworn  the  same  as 

though  he  had  been  challenged  by  an  elector  present.  In  all. 

cases  of  challenge,  the  inspector  holding  the  election  list  of  elec- 
tors as  aforesaid  shall  note  the  word  “sworn”  opposite  the  name 

of  the  person  challenged,  whether  the  person  offering  to  vote 

shall  be  permitted  to  vote  or  not.  The  register  of  electors  may 

be  referred  to  in  all  cases  of  disagreement  and  doubt  on  any 

question  during  the  election,  and  such  register  when  relevant 

shall  be  conclusive. 

Duty  of  In- 
spector to 
challenge. 

Sec.  39.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  inspector  to  challenge 

every  person  offering  a ballot  whom  he  shall  know  or  suspect  to 

REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


be  disqualified  as  an  elector;  when  an  elector  shall  not  be  chal- 
lenged or  shall  have  taken  the  necessary  vote  or  affirmation,  he 
shall  be  permitted  to  vote,  but  not  otherwise.  If  any  person 
offering  to  vote  shall  be  challenged  as  unqualified  by  any  in- 
spector, challenger,  or  elector  entitled  to  vote  at  that  poll,  the 
chairman  of  the  board  of  inspectors  shall  declare  to  the  person 
challenged  the  constitutional  qualifications  of  an  elector,  and  if 
such  person  shall  state  that  he  is  a qualified  elector  and  the 
challenge  is  not  withdrawn,  one  of  the  inspectors  shall  tender 
to  him  such  one  of  the  following  oaths  as  he  may  claim  to  con- 
tain the  grounds  of  his  qualifications  to  vote: 

“You  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  you  are  twenty-one  oath, 
years  of  age,  that  you  are  a citizen  of  the  United  States,  that 
you  are  now  a resident  of  this  election  district,  and  that  you 
have  resided  in  this  state  six  months  next  preceding  this  day, 
and  in  this  ward  twenty  days  next  preceding  this  day,  and  that 
you  have  not  voted  at  this  election.”  Or,  “You  do  solemnly 
swear  (or  affirm)  that  you  are  twenty-one  years  of  age,  that  you 
resided  in  this  state  on  the  twenty-fourth  day  of  June,  eighteen 
hundred  and  thirty-five,  that  you  have  resided  in  this  state  six 
months  next  preceding  this  day,  and  in  this  ward  twenty  days 
next  preceding  this  day,  and  now  reside  in  this  election  district, 
and  that  you  have  not  voted  at  this  election.”  Or,  “You  do 
solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  you  are  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
and  that  you  resided  in  this  state  on  the  first  day  of  January, 
eighteen  hundred  and  fifty,  that  you  have  resided  in  this  state 
six  months  next  preceding  this  day,  and  are  now  a resident  of 
this  election  district,  and  that  you  have  not  voted  at  this  elec- 
tion.” Or,  “You  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm)  that  you  are 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  that  you  resided  in  this  state  two  years 
and  six  months  prior  to  the  eighth  day  of  November,  one  thou- 
sand eight  hundred  and  ninety-four  ,that  you  declared  your  inten- 


44 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


Method 

voting. 


tion  to  become  a citizen  of  the  United  States  two  years  and  six 
months  prior  to  the  eighth  day  of  November,  one  thousand  eight 
hundred  and  ninety-four,  pursuant  to  the  laws  thereof,  that  you 
have  resided  in  this  state  six  months  next  preceding  this  day, 
and  in  this  ward  twenty  days  preceding  this  day,  that  you  are 
now  a resident  of  this  election  district,  and  that  you  have  not 
voted  at  this  election.”  Or,  “You  do  solemnly  swear  (or  affirm) 
that  you  are  twenty-one  years  of  age,  and  that  you  are  a native 
of  the  United  States,  that  you  are  a civilized  inhabitant  of  Indian 
descent  and  not  a member  of  any  tribe,  that  you  have  resided  in 
this  state  six  months  next  preceding  this  day,  and  in  this  ward 
twenty  days  next  preceding  this  day,  that  you  are  now  a resident 
of  this  election  district,  and  that  you  have  not  voted  at  this  elec- 
tion.” If  the  person  so  challenged  shall  take  such  oath  his  vote 
shall  be  received,  but  if  he  shall  swear  falsely,  upon  conviction 
thereof,  he  shall  be  liable  to  the  pains  and  penalties  of  perjury. 

Sec.  40.  On  entering  the  room  the  inspector  holding  the  bal- 
lots shall  deliver  to  any  elector  applying  to  vote  one  of  them, 
and  on  request  shall  give  an  explanation  of  the  manner  of  voting; 
if  deemed  necessary  by.  the  board  an  interpreter  may  be  called. 
The  elector  shall  then  and  without  leaving  the  room  go  alone 
into  a booth  which  is  unoccupied  and  indicate  the  candidates 
for  whom  he  desires  to  vote  as  follows:  Any  elector  may  mark 
a cross  in  the  space  below  the  party  name  printed  at  the  head 
of  the  ballot.  If  marked  thus,  such  ballot  shall  be  counted  for 
all  the  nominees  of  such  party  whose  names  appear  on  the 
ballot  in  that  column  unless  the  voters  shall  have  erased  some 
name  in  the  column  or  marked  a cross  before  the  name  of  a 
candidate  for  the  same  office  in  some  other  column,  or  written 
in  the  name  under  the  name  of  any  candidate  in  the  column  of 
which  the  elector  may  have  made  a mark  in  the  space  below  the 
party  named.  If  the  voter  shall  erase  some  name  in  the  colhmh, 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


45 


the  votes  shall  not  be  counted  for  the  person  whose  name  is 
erased.  If  he  shall  have  marked  a cross  before  the  name 
of  a candidate  in  some  other  column,  the  votes  shall  be  counted 
for  such  candidate.  If  the  voter  shall  have  written  in  the  name 
under  the  name  of  any  candidate  in  a column  at  the  head  of 
which  he  shall  have  made  a mark  or  cross,  the  name  of  the 
person  so  written  shall  be  deemed  to  have  been  voted  for  by  such 
ballot  unless  the  voter  shall  have  also  marked  before  the  name 
of  some  other  candidate  for  the  same  office  a cross,  in  which 
case  the  ballot  shall  be  rejected  for  such  office  as  being  a double 
ballot.  If  a ballot  is  found  in  any  ballot  box  containing  the 
same  name  of  the  person  and  the  office  for  which  he  is  desig- 
nated, or  either  of  them,  two  or  more  times,  and  shall  contain  a 
cross  opposite  such  names  or  name,  it  must  not  for  that  reason 
be  rejected,  but  shall  be  counted  as  one  vote,  provided  that  the 
election  commissioners  shall  not  place  on  any  ballot  the  name 
of  any  person  for  the  same  office  more  than  once,  notwithstand- 
ing he  may  appear  as  certified  by  more  than  one  committee,  and 
as  provided  by  law.  Votes  cast  for  two  or  more  persons  for  the 
same  office,  except  in  cases  provided  by  law,  shall  be  rejected; 
when  it  shall  be  lawful  to  vote  for  two  or  more  persons  for  the 
same  office,  the  name  of  the  office  shall  be  printed  in  the  first 
column,  and  opposite  to  it,  in  the  appropriate  column,  the  names 
of  all  candidates  of  such  party  for  such  office,  the  names  follow- 
ing each  other  being  placed  opposite  to  other  names  of  other 
parties  in  the  other  columns,  and  if  a voter  shall  place  a cross 
opposite  the  name  of  either  of  said  candidates,  it  shall  be  con- 
sidered that  he  has  erased  the  name  of  the  candidate  for  such 
office  upon  his  ticket  which  is  printed  immediately  opposite  the 
name  so  marked  unless  he  shall  also  erase  some  name  upon 
his  ticket  for  the  same  office,  but  it  shall  be  unlawful  to  vote  for 
more  persons  than  there  are  officers  to  be  voted  for  at  such 


46 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


Distinguish- 
ing’ marks. 


Ballot  boxes. 


election  and  all  votes  cast  for  more  persons  than  there  are 
offices  to  be  filled  shall  be  rejected. 

Sec.  41.  When  a ballot  found  in  any  ballot  box  bears  any 
impression,  device,  color  or  thing  on  its  face  or  outside  thereof 
excepting  as  provided  by  this  act  designed  to  distinguish  such 
ballots  from  other  legal  ballots,  it  must  with  all  its  contents  be 
rejected,  and  any  ballot  bearing  any  impression,  device,  color  or 
thing  upon  its  face  or  so  marked  upon  the  edges  that  when 
folded  and  delivered  to  the  inspectors  it  may  be  distinguished 
from  other  ballots,  or  as  to  designate  or  impart  knowledge  of 
the  person  who  voted  such  ballot,  it  must  with  all  its  contents 
be  rejected.  Whenever  the  board  of  inspectors  rejects  a ballot, 
it  must  be  at  the  time  of  such  rejection  cause  to  be  made  thereon, 
signed  by  a majority  of  the  board,  an  endorsement  of  such  re- 
jection and  of  the  causes  thereof. 

Sec.  42.  The  ballot  box  shall  be  provided  with  double  covers, 
one  inside  the  other,  hinged,  and  each  with  a lock  and  key,  and 
when  locked  one  of  the  keys  shall  during  the  time  of  the  election 
be  held  by  one  of  the  inspectors  and  one  key  by  another  of  the 
inspectors.  Said  coverings  shall  have  openings  of  the  proper 
size  to  admit  a single  closed  ballot,  and  therein  each  ballot  re- 
ceived shall  be  inserted.  At  the  opening  of  the  polls  the  ballot 
boxes  shall  be  opened  and  turned  upside  down  so  as  to  empty 
them  of  anything  that  may  be  in  them,  and  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  inspectors  to  offer  to  such  persons  as  may  be  present  the 
privilege  of  examining  the  same  in  their  presence.  They  shall 
then  be  locked,  and  the  boxes  shall  not  again  be  opened  until 
the  counting  of  the  ballots  begins ; one  of  the  clerks  shall  keep  a 
poll  list  which  shall  contain  the  names  of  all  electors  whose 
ballots  were  received  at  such  election,  and  opposite  each  name 
shall  enter  the  number  of  such  elector  consecutively  in  the  order 
which  the  electors  vote.  For  the  election  at  which  school  in- 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


47 


speetors  shall  be  chosen,  additional  boxes  shall  be  provided  for 
the  ballots  cast  by  registered  women  electors.  Women  electors 
may  be  challenged,  and  before  their  votes  are  received  shall  be 
required  to  take  an  oath  or  affirmation  the  same  as  male  elec- 
tors. In  making  the  returns  of  such  election,  a separate  return 
shall  be  made  of  the  votes  cast  by  women,  but  the  aggregate 
vote  returned  shall  include  the  votes  of  all  women  electors,  but 
no  ballot  shall  be  received  from  any  woman  unless  she  shall 
have  registered,  and  would  be  a qualified  elector  in  the  district 
if  she  were  a male  elector,  but  if  so  registered  and  qualified, 
women  residing  in  the  district  shall  be  entitled  to  vote  for  school 
inspectors. 

Sec.  43.  If  any  elector  shall  show  his  ballot  or  any  part 
thereof  to  any  person  (other  than  one  lawfully  assisting  him  in 
the  preparation  thereof^after  the  same  shall  have  been  marked, 
so  as  to  disclose  the  name  of  any  candidate  marked  by  him, 
such  ballot  shall  not  be  received  or  deposited  in  the  ballot  box. 
In  case  such  elector  shall  so  expose  his  ballot,  his  name  shall 
be  entered  on  the  poll  list  with  a minute  of  such  occurrence, 
and  such  elector  shall  not  be  allowed  to  vote  thereafter  at  said 
election.  The  elector  shall  then  leave  the  room,  but  no  elector 
to  whom  a ballot  has  been  delivered  shall  be  permitted  to  leave 
the  room  without  voting  the  ballot  or  returning  it  to  the  inspec- 
tor from  whom  he  received  it.  Any  elector  who  shall  attempt  to 
leave  the  room  with  a ballot,  or  with  any  book,  pencil,  stationery 
or  other  paraphernalia  of  the  election  in  his  possession,  shall  be 
at  once  arrested  on  demand  of  any  member  of  the  board  of  in- 
spectors if  he  shall  refuse  to  deliver  the  same  upon  request. 

Sec.  44.  No  ballot  shall  be  distributed  by  any  person  other 
than  one  of  the  inspectors  of  election,  nor  in  any  place  except 
within  the  railing  of  the  voting  room  to  electors  about  to  vote, 
and  no  ballot  which  has  not  the  initials  of  a member  of  the 


Separate 
returns 
to  ibe  made  of 
votes  cast  by 
women. 


Exhibiting 
ballot  or 
carrying 
ballots  away. 


Inspectors 
shall  distrib- 
ute ballots, 
and  assist 
ignorant 
voters. 


48 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


Spoiled  bal- 
lots. 


Inspectors 
to  keep  an 
account  of  all 
ballots. 


board  of  election  inspectors  written  by  such  inspector  on  the 
back  thereof  shall  be  placed  in  the  ballot  box.  When  any  elector 
shall  make  oath  that  he  cannot  read  English,  or  that  because  of 
physical  disability  he  cannot  mark  his  ballot,  or  when  such  dis- 
ability shall  be  made  manifest  to  said  inspectors,  his  ballot  shall 
be  marked  for  him  by  an  inspector  designated  by  the  board  for 
that  purpose,  who  is  not  a candidate  on  that  ticket,  in  the  pres- 
ence of  at  least  one  other  inspector,  and  in  the  presence  of  the 
witnesses,  or  such  of  them  as  may  be  present,  appointed  by  the 
chairman  of  the  different  political  parties  as  herein  provided. 
Any  inspector  or  person  who  shall  mark  a ballot  for  any  elector, 
excepting  as  provided  by  this  act,  and  in  the  presence  of  one 
other  inspector  and  said  witness,  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a 
misdemeanor,  and  shall  be  punished  accordingly,  provided  the 
imprisonment  shall  not  exceed  thirty  .days  nor  the  fine  exceed 
two  hundred  dollars,  and  the  fine  and  imprisonment  may  both 
be  imposed.  A suitable  place  shall  be  provided  for  the  marking 
of  ballots  by  an  inspector  for  electors  unable  to  mark  the  same 

as  herein  provided,  inside  the  railing,  at  which  the  elector,  the 
\ 

inspectors  and  the  witnesses  may  be  accommodated  so  that  all 
of  such  persons  may  be  present  and  witness  such  marking. 

Sec.  45.  If  any  elector  inadvertently  spoils  a ballot,  he  may 
obtain  another  from  the  board  by  returning  such  spoiled  ballot 
to  the  board,  who  shall  preserve  the  same  for  return  with  the 
other  unused  ballots.  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  the  board  of  in- 
spectors, or  any  of  them,  or  any  person  in  the  polling  room  or 
any  compartment  therewith  connected,  to  persuade  or  to  en- 
deavor to  persuade  any  person  to  vote  for  or  against  any  par- 
ticular candidate  or  party  ticket. 

Sec.  46.  The  board  of  inspectors  of  election  shall  preserve 
the  unused  ballots,  together  with  the  ballots  which  have  been 
spoiled,  and  shall  deliver  the  same  to  the  superintendent  of  po- 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


49 


lice  or  to  his  duly  authorized  messenger,  taking  his  receipt  there- 
for as  above  provided.  A statement  of  the  number  of  ballots 
used  shall  be  enclosed  with  the  ballots  returned.  Two  ballot 
boxes  shall  be  provided  other  than  those  provided  for  women 
voters,  one  for  the  reception  of  votes  cast  prior  to  two  o’clock  and 
one  for  votes  cast  after  that  hour.  At  two  o’clock,  the  clerk  hav- 
ing charge  of  the  poll  list  shall  draw  a line  under  the  last  name 

Two  o’clock 

entered  in  the  list,  and  Shall  write  thereunder  the  words  “two  count, 
o’clock  count  commenced,”  which  shall  be  signed  by  the  chairman 
of  the  board  and  attested  by  such  clerk.  The  number  of  votes 
shown  by  the  poll  list  up  to  the  hour  of  two  o’clock  shall  be 
counted  and  compared  with  the  number  checked  off  in  the  elec- 
tion list  of  electors  up  to  that  time,  and  the  number  of  voters 
having  been  ascertained  and  agreed  upon,  the  result  shall  be 
certified  in  the  poll  book,  in  which  proper  blanks  shall  be  printed 
for  that  purpose.  The  box  then  containing  the  ballots  cast  up  to 
the  hour  of  two  o’clock  shall  then  be  opened,  and  before  opening 
any  ballot  or  ascertaining  its  contents,  the  number  of  ballots 
shall  first  be  counted.  If  the  number  of  ballots  exceed  the  num- 
ber of  names  on  the  poll  books  certified  as  aforesaid,  the  ballots 
shall  then  be  replaced  in  the  box,  and  one  of  the  inspectors, 
with  his  back  to  the  box,  and  without  seeing  it,  shall  draw  out, 
without  showing  them,  a number  of  ballots  equal  to  the  excess, 
and  if  during  the  counting  of  the  ballots,  or  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  counting,  an  excess  of  ballots  be  discovered,  all  the  ballots 
shall  then  be  returned  to  the  box,  and  after  being  thoroughly 
mingled,  the  excess  shall,  in  the  manner  directed  above,  be 
drawn  out  and  the  count  corrected  accordingly.  In  all  cases 
where  ballots  have  been  drawn  out,  a minute  of  the  number  so 
drawn  shall  be  returned  with  the  unused  ballots  to  the  superin- 
tendent of  police,  and  by  him  destroyed.  If  two  or  more  separate 
ballots  are  found  so  folded  together  as  to  present  the  appearance 


5.0 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


Procedure  in 
counting. 


Ball/ots  for 
and  against  a 
proposition  to 
be  counted 
first. 


of  a single  ballot,  they  must  be  laid  aside  until  the  count  of  the 
ballots  is  completed;  then,  if,  upon  comparison  of  the  count,  the 
number  and  names  of  electors  on  the  poll  book,  it  appears  that 
the  two  ballots  thus  folded  together  were  cast  by  one  elector, 
they  must  both  be  rejected  and  returned  with  other  unused  bal- 
lots. The  ballots  and  poll  list  agreeing,  or  being  made  to  agree, 
in  this  way,  the  board  shall  proceed  to  count  the  vote  in  the  fol- 
lowing manner:  If  a proposition  shall  have  been  submitted  to 
the  vote  of  the  electors  at  that  election,  all  the  ballots  shall  be 
first  separated  into  three  piles,  the  first  pile  containing  all  the 
ballots  in  favor  of  such  proposition,  the  second  pile  containing 
all  the  ballots  against  such  proposition,  and  the  third  pile  con- 
taining all  the  ballots  not  mentioning  such  proposition,  or  being 
neither  for  nor  against  such  proposition.  At  least  three  of  the 
inspectors  shall  then  examine  each  pile,  and  see  that  the  separa- 
tion has  been  properly  made;  then  the  first  pile  of  ballots  shall 
be  carefully  counted  and  the  result  announced  to  the  clerk,  who 
shall  tally  the  same,  and  so  the  second  pile  shall  be  counted,  an- 
nounced and  tallied,  and  likewise  the  third  pile  necessary,  where- 
upon the  clerk  shall  announce  to  the  inspectors  the  number  of 
votes  for  and  the  number  of  votes  against  such  proposition.  The 
ballots  for  and  against  any  proposition  to  be  made  shall  always 
be  canvassed,  counted  and  tallied  before  the  names  of  candidates 
for  any  office  are  canvassed,  counted  or  tallied,  and  it  shall  be 
the  legal  duty  of  the  inspectors  and  clerks  of  election  to  make 
a true  count  and  correct  return  of  all  votes  upon  any  such  prop- 
osition, and  any  wilful  failure  or  neglect  of  any  inspector  or 

clerk  to  do  so  shall  be  a misdemeanor,  and  punished  accordingly. 
After  completing  the  counting  and  tallying  of  the  votes  on  any 

such  proposition,  those  ballots  which  contain  names  which  are 

marked  alike,  and  commonly  known  as  straight  tickets,  shall  be 
placed  together  so  that  the  several  kinds  shall  be  in  separate  piles 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


51 


or  on  separate  files.  At  least  two  of  the  inspectors  shall  each 
examine  the  separate  piles  which  are,  or  are  supposed  to  be 
alike,  and  exclude  from  such  piles  any  which  have  a name  erased 
or  in  any  manner  shall  be  different  from  the  others  of  such  pile. 
One  of  said  inspectors  shall  then  take  one  pile  of  the  kind  of 
ballots  which  are  marked  alike,  and  count  them  in  such  subdi- 
visions thereof  as  may  be  convenient  for  a prompt  and  careful 
determination  of  the  result  of  such  election,  carefully  examining 
each  name  and  each  of  said  ballots.  Such  inspector  shall  then 
pass  the  ballots  aforesaid  to  another  inspector,  who  shall  then 
count  them  in  the  same  manner  and  who  shall  pass  them  to 
a third  inspector,  who  shall  also  count  them  in  the  same  manner. 
The  third  inspector  shall  then  call  the  names  of  the  persons 
marked  or  voted  for  by  such  ballots,  and  the  offices  for  which 
they  are  designated,  and  the  clerk  shall  tally  the  number  of 
votes  counted,  and  so  called  for  each  of  such  persons.  When  the 
said  inspectors  shall  have  gone  through  one  of  such  piles  of 
ballots  known  as  straight  tickets,  and  the  clerk  shall  have  tallied 
all  the  votes  for  each  of  such  persons,  they  shall  then  take  up 
the  next  pile  of  ballots  containing  the  names  which  are  marked 
alike,  and  shall  count  them  in  the  same  way,  and  shall  call  the 
names  of  the  persons  named  in  said  ballots,  and  the  offices  for 
which  they  are  designated,  and  the  tally  clerk  shall  tally  the 
votes  for  each  of  said  persons  in  the  same  manner  as  in  the  first 
instance.  When  the  counting  of  each  pile  of  ballots,  which  con- 
tain names  which  are  marked  alike,  shall  be  completed,  the 
clerks  shall  compare  their  tallies  together,  and  ascertain  the  total 
number  of  ballots  of  that  kind  so  canvassed,  and  when  they 
agree  upon  the  number,  one  of  them  shall  announce  such  number 
in  a loud  voice  to  the  inspectors.  The  said  inspectors  having 
completed  the  canvass  of  the  “straight  tickets”  shall  then  can- 
vass the  other  kind  of  ballots  which  do  not  correspond,  and  those 


Inspectors  to 
count  ballots. 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


containing  the  names  which  are  marked  partly  in  one  column 
and  partly  in  another,  usually  called  split  tickets,  and  those  from 
which  the  name  of  the  person  proper  to  be  voted  for  on  such 
ballot  has  been  omitted  or  erased,  usually  called  scratch  tickets, 
said  ballots  shall  be  canvassed  in  such  subdivisions  as  the  in- 
spectors may  agree  upon,  and  when  all  the  ballots  shall  have 
been  canvassed  in  this  manner,  and  the  tally  clerks  have  made 
tally  of  the  same,  the  clerks  shall  compare  their  tallies  together, 
and  ascertain  the  total  number  of  votes  received  by  each  candi- 
date, and  when  they  agree  upon  the  number  one  of  them  shall 
announce  in  a loud  voice  to  the  inspectors  the  number  of  votes 
received  by  each  candidate  on  each  kind  of  ballot  containing  his 
name,  the  number  received  by  him  on  the  split  and  scratch 
tickets  and  the  total  number  of  votes  received  by  him.  Each 
batch  or  subdivision  of  ballots  agreed  upon  by  the  inspectors  to 
be  counted  shall,  as  soon  as  counted,  read  and  tallied,  be  strung 
upon  a strong  string  or  twine,  or  have  rubber  bands  placed 
around  them,  and  each  batch  shall  be  thus  disposed  of  before  the 
commencement  of  the  count  of  the  next  lot  or  batch.  At  the 
completion  of  the  canvass  made  in  this  manner  of  the  votes  cast 
up  to  the  hour  of  two  o’clock,  the  ballots  shall  then  be  placed  in 
the  same  box,  together  with  the  tally  sheets,  and  the  two  covers 
securely  locked,  each  of  the  keys  being  held  by  different  inspec- 
tors, and  the  same  shall  remain  securely  locked  until  the  com- 
pletion of  the  canvass  of  the  remainder  of  the  votes  cast  at  such 
election. 

Sec.  47.  As  soon  as  the  polls  at  said  election  shall  have  been 
finally  closed  the  inspectors  of  election  shall  immediately,  and 
at  the  close  of  the  poll  proceed  to  canvass  the  remainder  of  the 
votes  cast  and  remaining  uncounted.  Such  canvass  shall  not  be 
adjourned  or  postponed  until  it  shall  have  been  fully  completed, 
nor  until  the  several  statements  hereinafter  required  to  be  made 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


53 


by  the  inspectors  and  clerks  shall  have  been  made  out  and  signed 
by  them.  The  said  canvass  of  the  ballots  cast  after  two  o’clock 
shall  be  made  in  the  same  manner  as  the  canvass  of  the  ballots 
cast  before  that  hour  as  hereinbefore  provided,  the  number  of 
voters  according  to  poll  list  and  election  list  of  electors  having 
been  ascertained,  after  careful  comparison  of  the  same,  and 
counting  the  number  therein  entered.  After  such  canvass  shall 
have  been  completed  and  the  number  of  votes  received  by  each 
candidate  shall  have  been  announced,  then  the  ballot  box  contain- 
ing the  votes  canvassed  at  the  two  o’clock  count  shall  be  opened 
and  the  tally  sheets  of  that  count  taken  therefrom,  and  the  num- 
ber of  votes  for  each  candidate  shown  by  said  tally  sheets  at  the 
two  o’clock  count  and  the  tally  sheets  of  the  counts  made  of  votes 
received  by  each  candidate,  and  proclamation  shall  thereupon  be 
clerk,  and  the  tally  clerks  having  compared  their  tallies  together, 
and  ascertained  the  total  number  of  votes  received  by  each  candi- 
date, at  said  election  poll,  when  they  have  agreed  upon  the  num- 
ber, shall  announce  to  the  inspectors  the  total  number  of  votes 
received  after  two  o’clock  shall  be  added  together  by  the  tally 
made  in  a loud  voice  and  repeated  by  one  of  said  inspectors,  of 
the  total  number  of  votes  received  by  each  of  the  persons  voted 
for  in  said  district  for  the  office  for  which  he  is  designated  and 
the  number  of  votes  for  and  the  number  of  votes  against  any 
proposition  which  shall  have  been  submitted  to  a vote  of  the 
people.  Such  proclamation  shall  be  prima  facie  evidence  of  the 
result  of  the  canvass  of  such  votes. 

Sec.  48.  The  inspectors  shall  preserve  all  of  the  ballots  re-  inspectors 

shall  preserve 

jected  by  them,  either  because  they  are  defective  or  for  any  ballots, 
other  reason,  and  shall  attach  the  same  together  with  a string 
or  twine  or  rubber  band  with  the  statement  thereto  annexed 
that  they  are  defective  or  rejected  ballots  which  have  been  re- 
jected by  them,  which  statement  shall  be  signed  by  the  inspec- 


54 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


How  certified. 


Returns. 


tors  the  same  as  the  defective  or  rejected  ballots  deposited  in 
the  box  with  the  other  ballots,  and  the  canvass  being  completed 
and  the  result  ascertained,  the  number  of  votes  for  each  person 
and  for  the  office  for  which  he  is  designated  and  the  number  of 
votes  for  and  against  any  proposition  submitted  to  vote  at  that 
election,  shall  be  set  down  in  the  poll  book  upon  proper  blanks 
inserted  therein  under  the  inspection  of  the  inspectors  and  cer- 
tified and  signed  by  them  and  attested  by  the  clerks.  In  all  cer- 
tificates, the  number  of  votes  shall  be  fully  written  out  in  words, 
also  in  figures. 

Sec.  49.  The  counting  of  the  votes  having  been  completed, 
the  ballots  returned  to  the  box  as  aforesaid,  and  said  certificate 
entered  in  the  poll  book,  the  inspectors  shall  immediately  pro- 
ceed to  make  and  certify  full  and  true  returns  of  the  result  of 
such  election  under  their  hands;  one  return  shall  be  made  of  all 
the  votes  cast  for  each  city  office,  including  those  elected  to  rep- 
resent wards  and  districts,  and  one  return  shall  be  made  of  the 
votes  cast  for  all  other  offices  voted  for  at  said  election,  and  a 
like  return  shall  be  made  of  all  votes  cast  for  and  against  any 
proposition  which  shall  have  been  submitted  to  the  electors  of 
such  election;  duplicates  of  each  of  said  returns  shall  be  made 
and  certified  in  like  manner.  One  copy  of  such  return  of  the 
votes  cast  for  city  offices  shall  be  placed  in  an  envelope  carefully 
sealed  and  the  names  of  all  the  inspectors  written  across  the 
back  of  the  envelope  in  such  manner  that  the  same  cannot  be 
opened  without  breaking  such  seal  and  otherwise  defacing  such 
envelope  and  signatures.  Such  envelope  shall  also  have  the 
names  or  number  of  the  election  district  thereon,  and  shall  be 
directed  to  the  board  of  oity  canvassers  in  care  of  the  County 
Clerk  of  Wayne  County,  and  the  other  copy  of  such  returns  of 
votes  cast  for  city  offices  shall  be  placed  in  a like  envelope  and 
marked,  sealed  and  endorsed  in  like  manner  and  directed  to  the. 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


5 > 


City  Clerk;  and  one  copy  of  such  returns  of  the  votes  cast  for 

state  and  county  offices  or  other  offices  than  city  offices,  and  one 

copy  of  the  returns  of  votes  cast  upon  any  proposition  submitted 

at  such  election  shall  be  placed  in  a like  envelope,  sealed,  marked 

and  endorsed  in  like  manner  and  shall  be  directed  to  the  board 

of  county  canvassers  in  care  of  the  City  Clerk,  and  the  other  copy 

of  such  returns  or  votes  cast  for  other  than  city  offices  and  of 

votes  cast  upon  any  proposition  submitted  at  such  election  shall 

be  placed  in  another  envelope,  sealed,  marked  and  endorsed  in 

like  manner  and  directed  to  the  County  Clerk  of  Wayne  County; 

provided,  that  if  a proposition  shall  be  submitted  relating  to  the 

city  alone  or  by  order  of  the  common  council,  a return  of  the 

votes  cast  thereon  shall  be  enclosed  in  the  envelope  directed  to 

the  board  of  city  canvassers  and  a copy  thereof  enclosed  in  the 

envelope  with  the  returns  of  votes  for  city  offices  shall  be  placed 

in  the  envelope  returned  to  the  City  Clerk.  The  envelopes  directed 

to  the  City  Clerk  shall  contain  a further  endorsement  indicating 

whether  the  return  in  the  respective  envelopes  are  cast  for  city 

or  for  offices  other  than  city  offices,  naming  them,  or  upon  any 

proposition  submitted.  The  returns  directed  to  the  board  of  city 

canvassers  and  to  the  board  of  county  canvassers,  respectively, 

shall  be  delivered  to  them  respectively  by  the  County  Clerk  and 

City  Clerk;  the  other  returns  directed  to  the  City  Clerk  and 

County  Clerk  shall  be  filed  by  them  in  their  respective  offices  as 

part  of  the  records  thereof.  All  of  said  returns  having  been  signed 

and  enveloped  as  aforesaid,  the  inspectors  shall  cause  the  tally  Tally  s!;ieetf  . 

sheets  to  be  placed  in  the  boxes,  the  tally  sheet  of  the  two  o’clock  eaohTount. 

count  being  placed  in  the  box  containing  the  votes  cast  up  to  that 

time,  and  the  tally  sheets  of  the  votes  cast  after  that  time  being 

placed  in  the  other  box.  They  shall  securely  lock  each  of  said 

boxes  and  a covering  of  leather  or  canvas  fastened  with  sealing 

wax,  and  stamped  with  an  official  election  seal,  shall  be  placed 


56 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


over  the  hole  in  the  lid  or  cover  and  the  key  hole  to  said  box,  so 
as  to  completely  cover  both  said  holes  in  such  manner  that  the 
same  cannot  be  opened  nor  the  holes  in  the  cover  or  the  key 
holes  be  uncovered  without  breaking  the  seal.  The  envelopes 
directed  to  the  City  Clerk  containing  copies  of  the  election  return 
as  aforesaid  shall  then,  together  with  the  keys  to  the  ballot 
boxes  and  the  election  seal,  be  taken  by  any  two  members  of  the 
board  designated  for  that  purpose  directly  from  such  polling 
place  to  the  office  of  the  City  Clerk,  who  shall  keep  his  office  open 
until  the  returns  from  all  election  districts  shall  have  been  re- 
ceived, and  there  delivered  by  said  inspectors  to  said  clerk  or  one 
of  his  deputies,  who  shall  observe  whether  such  envelopes  have 
been  tampered  with  and  shall  endorse  thereon  over  his  official 
signature  the  names  of  the  inspectors  from  whom  he  received 
said  return,  and  the  time  he  received  the  same,  and  whether  the 
same  is  in  apparent  good  order,  and  shall  thereupon  deposit  the 
same  in  a safe  and  secure  place  in  his  office;  the  keys  and  elec- 
tion seal  shall  be  placed  in  the  proper  receptacle  until  needed, 
but  the  returns  directed  to  the  board  of  city  canvassers  shall 
not  be  opened  until  the  meeting  of  said  board,  when  they  shall 
be  delivered  to  said  board  by  the  County  Clerk.  The  envelopes 
to  the  County  Clerk  and  to  the  board  of  county  canvassers  shall 
be  delivered  to  other  inspectors  designated  for  such  purpose,  who 
shall  proceed  directly,  but  not  in  company  with  the  inspectors 
bearing  the  returns  to  the  City  Clerk,  to  the  office  of  the  County 
Clerk,  who  shall  keep  his  office  open  until  the  returns  from  all 
the  election  districts  shall  have  been  received  and  delivered,  said 
envelopes  to  him  or  to  one  of  his  deputies,  and  said  clerk  or  his 
deputy  shall  observe  whether  the  said  envelopes  so  delivered 
have  been  tampered  with,  and  on  receiving  said  envelope  shall 
endorse  thereon  over  his  official  signature,  the  name  of  the  in- 
spectors from  whom  they  received  such  returns  and  the  time  of 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


57 


receiving  the  same,  and  that  the  same  are  apparently  in  good 
order,  and  he  shall  thereupon  deposit  the  same  in  a safe  and 
secure  place  in  the  office  of  the  County  Clerk,  but  the  returns 
directed  to  the  board  of  county  canvassers  shall  remain  unopened 
until  the  meeting  of  the  board  of  county  canvassers,  when  the 
same  shall  be  delivered  to  said  board  by  the  City  Clerk.  Any  one 
or  more  electors  present  at  the  voting  place  shall  have  the  right 
to  accompany  the  inspectors  designated  to  so  deliver  such  returns 
from  the  polling  place  to  the  offices  respectively  of  the  City  and 
County  Clerks,  and  should  said  inspectors,  or  either  of  them, 
prevent  or  attempt  to  prevent  such  electors  from  so  accompany- 
ing him  or  them,  or  evade  or  attempt  to  evade  such  electors,  or 
stop  at  any  place  on  the  way  from  such  polling  place  to  said  City 
or  County  Clerk’s  office  without  apparent  necessity  therefor,  he 
or  they  shall  be  deemed  guilty  of  a misdemeanor,  and  upon  con- 
viction thereof  shall  be  punished  accordingly.  Said  inspectors 
upon  returning  the  ballots  to  the  boxes  and  fastening  and  seal- 
ing the  same  shall  thereupon  deliver  the  same  with  the  unused 
ballots  and  a copy  of  the  poll  books  to  a member  of  the  metro- 
politan police,  who  shall  be  sent  to  the  polling  place  by  the  super- 
intendent of  police  for  the  purpose  of  receiving  the  same,  and 
the  messenger  so  sent  shall  forthwith  convey  said  boxes,  poll 
book  and  unused  ballots  to  police  headquarters  and  there  deliver 
the  same  to  said  superintendent,  and  the  said  boxes  when  so 
received  shall  be  deposited  by  said  superintendent  in  some  safe 
place  and  shall  remain  in  the  custody  of  said  superintendent  for 
four  months  thereafter,  when  the  ballots  therein  may  be  taken 
out  and  destroyed.  The  poll  books  shall  be  placed  on  file  in  the 
office  of  superintendent  of  police  and  the  unused  ballots  shall  be 
destroyed  as  herein  provided.  The  same  or  another  messenger 
shall  receive  from  the  inspectors  the  registers  of  electors,  elec- 
tion list  of  electors  and  other  paraphernalia  of  election  and  de- 


8 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


posit  the  same  with  the  City  Clerk.  Whenever  within  four 
months  any  court  of  competent  jurisdiction,  hoard  of  canvassers 
or  other  competent  authority  shall  require  such  ballot  boxes  for 
the  purpose  of  having  or  making  a recount  of  the  ballots  therein 
contained,  for  one  or  more  candidates,  said  superintendent  shall, 
upon  proper  demand  or  request  in  writing,  send  such  box  or 
boxes  as  may  be  required,  by  one  or  more  of  the  metropolitan 
police,  to  the  court  or  board  so  entitled  thereto,  but  such  box  or 
boxes  shall  not  be  taken  from  the  custody  of  such  member  or 
members  of  the  police  force  except  to  open  the  same  and  count 
the  ballots  therein  in  his  or  their  presence,  and  upon  such  count 
being  made  the  ballots  shall  be  returned  to  the  box  or  boxes 
from  which  they  were  taken,  duly  locked  and  sealed,  and  said 
boxes  then  be  conveyed  back  by  the  members  in  charge  to  such 
superintendent. 


(As  amended  March  10,  1897.) 


Board  of  'City 
Canvassers. 


When  to  meet. 


Proceedings 
of  Board. 


Clerks. 


Compensation 
of  Clerk. 


Chairman  of 
Board. 


Sec.  50.  The  City  Clerk,  City  Treasurer  and  the  senior  Police 
Justice  of  said  city  shall  constitute  the  board  of  city  canvassers 
referred  to  in  this  act,  and  shall  upon  the  Thursday  next  after 
the  election,  at  ten  o’clock  in  the  forenoon,  meet  in  a con- 
venient public  place,  to  be  by  them  designated,  and  proceed  to 
open  and  canvass  the  returns  for  city  officers  and  declare  the 
result  of  the  election  as  soon  as  possible  thereafter.  For  the 
purpose  of  tabulating  the  returns  and  doing  such  other  incidental 
detail  work  as  shall  be  necessary,  each  of  the  said  board  of  can- 
vassers may  designate  a suitable  person  to  act  as  one  of  the 
clerks  of  the  said  board,  to  be  compensated  in  such  manner  as 
the  council  may  determine.  The  board  itself  shall  elect  one  of 
their  number  to  be  chairman.  When  the  result  shall  have  been 
determined,  the  board  shall  cause  to  be  made  a record  in  the 
proper  book  for  that  purpose  to  be  provided,  of  its  proceedings 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


and  of  the  result  of  the  said  election  as  determined  by  the  said 
board,  which  shall  be  signed  by  the  entire  board  and  kept  on  file 
with  the  City  Clerk  for  record.  If  it  shall  be  claimed  by  any 
member  of  the  board  of  city  canvassers  that  the  return  made 
to  the  board  from  any  district  is  erroneous  in  respect  to  the 
return  of  votes  cast  for  any  office,  the  superintendent  of  police, 
on  the  request  of  said  board,  shall  produce  before  said  board  the 
returns  certified  in  the  poll  book  for  the  district,  and  the  County 
Clerk  shall  likewise  produce  the  returns  in  his  office  from  such 
district,  and  if  on  comparison  of  all  of  such  returns  it  appears 
that  any  two  of  them  agree  as  to  the  number  of  votes  returned 
for  such  office,  the  returns  so  agreeing  shall  be  accepted  as  cor- 
rect returns  of  the  number  of  votes  cast  for  such  office.  If  the 
error  be  claimed  to  have  been  made  in  the  return  for  any  state, 
county  or  congressional  office,  the  superintendent  of  police  and 
City  Clerk  shall  produce  said  poll  book  and  returns  filed  in  the 
City  Clerk’s  office,  and  like  examination  and  comparison  shall  be 
made  thereof  with  the  returns  made  to  the  county  board  of 
canvassers,  and  with  like  effect  as  is  above  provided  in  case  of 
alleged  error  in  the  return  of  votes  cast  for  a city,  ward  or  dis- 
trict office. 

(As  amended  by  act  approved  April  4,  1901.) 

Sec.  51.  All  registrars  and  inspectors  of  elections,  while  exer- 
cising their  office  under  this  or  any  other  law  regulating  elec- 
tions, shall  have  full  power  and  authority,  and  are  hereby  re- 
quired to  enforce  the  peace  and  good  order  and  obedience  to 
their  lawful  commands  for  such  ends  at  and  about  the  places 
of  registration  and  of  holding  elections.  They  shall  especially 
keep  the  access  of  electors  to  the  polls  open  and  unobstructed, 
prevent  and  suppress  all  riot,  violence,  tumult  and  disorder,  and 
also  any  and  all  improper  practices  or  attempts  tending  to  ob- 
struct or  intimidate  electors  from  ^ free  exercise  of  their  free 


Record  of 
determination. 


Proceedings 
in  case  of 
error  in  re- 
turns made 
to  Board. 


Registrars 
and  Inspec- 
tors shall  en- 
force peace 
and  good 
order. 


60 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


and  peaceful  regrstration  of  electors  or  counting  and  certifying 
the  results  of  an  election.  They  shall  also  protect  the  clerks  of 
the  election  and  the  witnesses  and  challengers  designated  to  at- 
tend the  election  as  herein  provided  for  from  any  violence,  in- 
terference or  molestation  during  the  receiving  and  enumeration 
of  ballots,  and  they  shall  at  all  hazards  be  bound  to  preserve  and 
secure  the  registers,  lists  of  electors,  poll  book,  ballot  boxes  and 
ballots  at  every  election  from  violence,  fraud  or  tampering.  To 
enforce  the  provisions  of  this  section,  the  officer  or  authority  hav- 
ing command  of  the  police  force  of  said  city  shall  detail  for 
service  at  the  polling  place  in  any  district  of  such  city  such  force 
as  the  police  board  may  deem  necessary,  and  on  every  day  of 
election  shall  have  a special  force  in  readiness  for  any  emer- 
gency. The  police  authorities  shall  assign  at  least  one  police- 
man to  duty  in  each  district  on  every  day  of  an  election,  and  if 
necessary  shall  employ  the  necessary  number  of  special  police- 
men. During  the  receiving  and  counting  of  the  ballots  or  register- 
ing of  electors,  no  person  shall  in  any  manner  hinder  or  delay  any 
elector  in  reaching  or  leaving  the  place  fixed  for  registration  01 
casting  his  ballot.  In  the  discharge  of  their  duties  the  inspectors 
of  election  may,  if  necessary,  appoint  and  require  any  elector 
or  electors  to  aid  them  in  making  known  their  order  and  en- 
forcing the  peace.  The  inspectors  of  election,  or  any  of  them,  or 
any  registrar,  may  order  the  arrest  of  any  person  violating  this 
section,  but  such  arrest  shall  not  prevent  such  person  from 
voting  or  registering  if  he  is  entitled  so  to  do.  The  sheriff  ami 
all  constables,  policemen  and  officers  of  the  peace,  and  all  by- 
standers at  any  election,  shall  immediately  obey  and  aid  in  en- 
forcing any  and  every  lawful  order  made  by  the  inspectors  or 
registrars  at  any  election  in  execution  of  the  provisions  of  this 
section.  Any  persons  wilfully  refusing  or  neglecting  to  perform 
any  of  the  duties  by  this  section  prescribed  shall  be  deemed 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


61 


guilty  of  a misdemeanor  and  shall  be  punished  accordingly.  No 
inspector  shall  count  or  enumerate  the  ballots  in  a manner  dif- 
ferent from  that  herein  described. 

Sec.  52.  Each  of  the  members  of  the  board  of  inspectors  and 
each  clerk  of  election  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  the  sum  of  not 
exceeding  eight  dollars,  and  each  gatekeeper  the  sum  of  not  ex- 
ceeding five  dollars,  which  shall  be  in  full  for  all  services  con- 
nected with  said  election,  for  services  at  the  same  and  making 
the  returns  thereof,  and  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  inspector, 
or  register,  or  clerk,  or  gatekeeper  to  receive  any  greater  sum, 
or  for  any  member  of  the  common  council  or  city  officer  tp  vote 
or  pay  any  greater  compensation  than  is  herein  allowed,  and 
any  person  violating  the  provisions  of  this  section  shall  be 
deemed  guilty  of  a misdemeanor.  The  inspectors  appointed 
to  represent  their  district  in  the  city  board  of  canvassers  shall 
be  entitled  to  receive  the  sum  respectively  of  eight  dollars,  and 
no  more,  in  addition  to  their  pay  as  members  of  the  board  of 
inspectors,  provided  that  the  members  of  the  board  appointed 
to  make  a recount  of  ballots  as  provided  by  law  may  receive  the 
Sum  of  four  dollars  for  each  day  of  eight  hours  in  which  they 
may  be  actually  engaged  in  making  such  recount. 

Sec.  53.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  City  Clerk  to  procure 
pamphlet  copies  of  this  chapter  to  be  printed,  and  furnish  one 
of  them  to  each  of  said  registrars  and  inspectors  on  acceptance 
of  their  respective  offices.  Any  vacancies  in  the  office  of  the 
present  registrars  shall  be  filled  by  appointment  by  the  common 
council,  and  in  the  office  of  inspector  by  the  electors  as  in  like 
cases  as  herein  provided. 

Sec.  54.  Special  elections  shall  be  conducted  as  near  as  may 
be  in  the  same  manner  as  general  elections,  but  in  such  cases 
the  returns  of  the  inspectors  shall  be  directed  to  and  shall  be 
opened  and  canvassed,  and  the  result  declared  by  the  common 


Compensa- 
tion of  In- 
spectors and 
Clerks. 


City  Clerk  to 
prepare  pam- 
phlet copies 
hereof. 


Special  elec- 
tions to  be  con- 
ducted like 
general  elec- 
tions. 


62 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


Election  to  fill 
vacancy. 


Tie  viote. 


This  act  to 
govern  all 

elections. 


No  arrest  on 
civil  process 
shall  (be  made 
on  election 
day. 


Local  time 
intended. 


council,  which  shall  hold  a session  for  that  purpose  on  the  Satur- 
day next  after  election  at  two  o’clock  in  the  afternoon. 

Sec.  55.  If  any  person  be  voted  for  at  an  election  to  fill 
vacancy  or  residue  of  a term,  the  ballot  of  the  electors  shall  des- 
ignate such  vacancy  or  residue,  and  on  the  canvass  of  votes  any 
person  who  has  received  a plurality  of  votes  for  any  office  shall 
be  declared  duly  elected  to  office. 

Sec.  56.  When  two  or  more  persons  shall  have  an  equal  num- 
ber of  votes  for  the  same  office,  the  election  shall  be  determined 
by  the  drawing  of  lots,  in  the  presence  of  the  common  council. 
The  name  of  each  of  such  persons  shall  be  written  on  separate 
slips  of  paper,  and  each  slip  deposited  in  a box,  or  other  proper 
place,  and  the  president  of  the  common  council  shall  draw  out 
of  said  box,  or  other  place,  in  the  usual  manner  of  determining 
by  lot,  one  of  said  slips,  and  the  person  whose  name  is  thereon 
shall  be  deemed  entitled  to  hold  the  office  for  which  he  received 
said  votes,  in  the  same  manner  as  other  officers  duly  elected. 

Sec.  57.  The  mode  of  conducting  all  state,  congressional  and 
county  elections  in  said. city,  shall  be  in  the  manner  herein  pro- 
vided for  the  election  of  city  officers,  except  that  the  returns 
thereof  shall  be  made  as  herein  provided,  and  the  provisions  of 
this  act  shall  govern  when  applicable  to  such  elections,  notwith- 
standing the  provisions  of  any  general  law  unless  the  same  shall 
in  terms  be  declared  applicable  to  elections  in  said  city,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  election  commissioners  of  the  county  to  print 
all  ballots  intended  for  use  in  said  city  in  the  manner  herein 
prescribed  for  elections  of  city  officers. 

Sec.  58.  No  person  entitled  to  vote  at  any  election,  held  under 
this  act,  shall  be  arrested  on  civil  processes  within  said  city,  on 
the  day  on  which  such  election  is  held.  When  any  time  shall  be 
mentioned  in  this  act  it  shall  be  deemed  to  be  local  and  not 
standard  time  so  called,  unless  otherwise  specially  provided. 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


63 


Sec.  59.  If  at  any  registration  of  voters,  or  any  meeting  of  the 
district  board  of  registration,  held  for  such  purpose,  or  for 
revision  thereof,  as  provided  in  this  act,  any  person  shall  falsely 
personate  an  elector  or  other  person,  and  register  or  attempt  to 
register  in  the  name  of  such  elector  or  other  person;  or  if  any 
person  shall  knowingly  or  fraudulently  register  or  offer,  or 
attempt,  or  make  application  to  register,  in,  or  under  the  name  of 
any  other  person,  or  in  or  under  a false  assumed  or  fictitious 
name,  or  in,  or  under  any  name  not  his  own;  or  shall  knowingly 
or  fraudulently  register  in  two  election  districts;  or  having 
registered  in  one  district,  shall  fraudulently  attempt  or  offer  to 
register  in  any  election  district  not  having  a lawful  right  to 
register  therein;  or  shall  knowingly  or  wilfully  or  fraudulently 
interfere  with,  hinder  or  delay  any  officer  of  registration  in  the 
discharge  of  his  duties,  or  counsel,  advise  or  induce  or  attempt 
to  induce  any  such  officer  to  refuse  or  neglect  to  comply  with 
or  to  perform  his  duties  or  to  violate  any  law  prescribed  for 
regulating  the  same;  or  shall  aid,  counsel,  procure  or  advise  any 
voter,  person,  inspector  of  election,  or  other  officer  of  registration, 
to  do  any  act  by  law  forbidden,  or  in  this  act  constituted  an 
offense,  or  to  omit  to  do  any  act  by  law  directed  to  be  done. 
Every  such  person  upon  conviction  thereof,  shall  be  adjudged 
guilty  of  a felony,  and  shall  be  punished  by  imprisonment  in  the 
Detroit  House  of  Correction  for  not  less  than  six  months  nor 
more  than  five  years.  If  at  any  election  hereafter  held  in  such 
city  any  person  shall  falsely  impersonate  any  elector  or  other 
person,  and  vote  or  attempt  to  or  offer  to  vote  in  or  upon  the 

name  of  such  elector  or  other  person;  or  shall  vote  or  attempt  to 

% 

vote  in  or  upon  the  name  of  any  other  person  whether  living  or 
dead,  or  in  or  upon  any  name  not  his  own;  or  shall  knowingly, 
wilfully  or  fraudulently  vote  more  than  once  for  any  candidate 
for  the  same  office,  except  as  authorized  by  law;  or  shall  vote  or 


Punislhment 
for  fraudulent 
registration 
or  fraudulent 
voting. 


I 


64 

REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 

Punishment 
for  falsifying 
return*. 

attempt  to,  or  offer  to  vote  in  any  election  district  without  having 

a lawful  right  to  vote  therein;  or  vote  more  than  once,  or  vote  in 
more  than  one  election  district,  or  having  once  voted  shall  vote 
or  attempt  to  or  offer  to  vote  again;  or  shall  by  force,  threat, 
menace,  intimidation,  bribery  or  reward,  or  offer  or  promise 
thereof,  or  otherwise  unlawfully,  either  directly  or  indirectly, 
influence  or  attempt  to  influence  any  elector  in  giving  his  vote;  or 
prevent  or  hinder,  or  attempt  to  prevent  or  hinder  any  qualified 
voter  from  freely  exercising  the  right  of  suffrage;  or  shall  know* 
ingly,  wilfully  or  fraudulently  interfere  with,  delay,  or  hinder  in 
any  manner,  any  inspector  of  election,  clerk  or  other  officer  of 

election  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties.  Every  person  shall,  upon 

conviction  thereof  be  adjudged  guilty  of  felony,  and  shall  be 

punished  for  each  and  every  offense  by  imprisonment  in  the 

Detroit  House  of  Correction  for  not  less  than  six  months  nor 

more  than  five  years. 

Sec.  60.  Every  inspector  of  election,  registrar,  clerk  or  other 
officer  or  person  having  the  custody  of  any  record,  registry  of 
voters,  election  list  of  voters,  affidavit  return  or  statement  of 
votes,  certificate,  poll  book,  or  of  any  paper,  document  or  vote 
of  any  description,  in  this  act  directed  to  be  made,  filed  or  pre- 

.jg/  M*  • - 

served,  who  is  guilty  of  stealing,  wilfully  destroying,  mutilating, 
defacing,  falsifying  or  fraudulently  removing  or  secreting  the 
whole  or  any  part  thereof;  or  who  shall  fraudulently  make  any 
entry,  erasure,  or  alteration  thl^ein,  except  as  allowed  and 
directed  by  the  provision  of  this  act;  or  who  permits  any  other 
person  so  to  do,  shall  upon  conviction  thereof  be  punished  for 
each  and  every  such  offense  by  imprisonment  in  the  Detroit 
House  of  Correction  for  not  less  than  six  months  nor  more  than 

five  years. 

Punishment 
for  certifying 
to  false  re- 
turns. 

Sec.  61.  Any  person  who  shall  be  convicted  of  wilfully  and 
corruptly  swearing  or  affirming,  in  taking  any  oath,  or  affirmation 
prescribed  by  or  upon  any  examination  provided  for  in  this  act, 
shall  be  adjudged  guilty  of  wilful  and  corrupt  perjury,  and  shall 
be  punished  therefor,  as  provided  by  and  according  to  the  laws 

of  this  state. 

REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


65 


ANNEXATION  OF  GREENFIELD. 

Sections  1 and  2 of  an  act  to  annex  certain  territory  situated  in 
the  Township  of  Greenfield,  in  the  County  of  Wayne,  to  the 
City  of  Detroit,  and  to  apply  and  make  operative  in  said  terri- 
tory all  laws  applicable  to  and  operative  in  said  city. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  Michigan  enact: 

Section  1.  All  that  territory  situated  in  the  Township  of  Green- 
field, in  the  County  of  Wayne,  hereinafter  described,  is  hereby 
annexed  to  and  shall  constitute  a part  of  the  City  of  Detroit. 
Said  territory  is  described  as  follows,  to-wit:  Beginning  at  the 
intersection  of  the  present  northerly  limits  of  the  City  of  Detroit 
with  the  northeasterly  line  of  Grand  River  avenue,  thence  north- 
westerly along  the  northeasterly  line  of  said  Grand  River  avenue 
to  the  intersection  with  the  extension  of  the  northerly  line  of 
Allendale  subdivision  of  southerly  ten  feet  of  lot  four  and  lots 
seven,  eight,  eleven  and  twelve  of  Tireman’s  subdivision  of  part 
of  lot  five,  one-fourth  sections  fifty,  fifty-one,  fifty-two,  Ten 
Thousand  Acre  Tract,  and  fractional  section  three,  town  two 
south,  range  eleven  east,  Greenfield  Township;  thence  westerly 
along  the  northerly  line  of  said  Allendale  subdivision  and  exten- 
sion thereof,  to  the  easterly  line  of  private  claim  two  hundred 
sixty;  thence  southerly  along  the  easterly  line  of  private  claim 
two  hundred  sixty  to  the  intersection  with  the  present  northerly 
line  of  the  City  of  Detroit;  thence  easterly;  thence  northerly 
and  again  easterly  along  the  present  city  limits  of  the  City  of 
Detroit  to  the  point  of  beginning,  the  above  described  property 
being  now  in  the  Township  of  Greenfield. 

Sec.  2.  The  said  territory  shall  constitute  a part  of  the  four- 
teenth ward  of  the  City  of  Detroit.  The  common  council  shall, 
at  least  thirty  days  before  the  first  general  or  special  election 
after  the  passage  of  this  act,  provide  for  the  lawful  registration 
of  electors  in  said  territory  in  the  northerly  voting  district  of 
said  ward  as  now  or  as  it  may  hereafter  be  established. 


06 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


ANNEXATION  OF  SPRINGWELLS. 

Sections  1 and  2 of  an  act  to  annex  certain  territory  situated  in 
the  Township  of  Springwells,  in  the  County  of  Wayne,  to  the 
City  of  Detroit,  and  to  apply  and  make  operative  in  said  terri- 
tory all  statutes  and  laws  now  or  hereafter  made  applicable 
to  and  operative  in  said  city. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  Michigan  enact: 

Section  1.  On  or  after  the  first  Monday  in  April,  nineteen  hun- 
dred six,  the  territory  hereinafter  described,  situated  in  the 
Township  of  Springwells,  in  the  County  of  Wayne,  shall  be  by 
virtue  of  this  act  annexed  to  and  made  to  form  a part  of  the 
City  of  Detroit.  Said  territory  so  to  be  annexed  to  said  city 
is  described  as  follows,  to-wit:  Commencing  at  a point  where 
the  northerly  boundary  line  of  said  City  of  Detroit,  as  now 
established  and  defined,  intersects  the  easterly  line  of  private 
claim  two  hundred  sixty;  thence  northerly  along  the  east  line 
of  private  claim  two  hundred  sixty  to  the  center  line  of  the 
Tireman  road  or  Holden  avenue;  thence  west  along  the  center 
line  of  Tireman  road  or  Holden  avenue  (being  also  the  south 
boundary  of  the  Township  of  Greenfield)  to  the  westerly  line  of 
the  Pere  Marquette  Railroad  Company’s  right  of  way;  thence 
southerly  along  said  line  to  a point  intersecting  the  northerly 
line,  extended  easterly  on  Wilson’s  subdivision  of  lot  one,  private 
claim  two  hundred  sixty-six;  thence  westerly  along  said  extended 
line  and  the  north  line  of  said  Wilson’s  subdivision  to  the  west- 
erly line  of  said  private  claim  two  hundred  sixty-six;  thence 
south  along  the  west  line  of  private  claim  two  hundred  sixty-six 
to  the  northeast  corner  of  private  claim  seven  hundred  nine- 
teen; thence  westerly  and  southerly  and  westerly  along  the  rear 
of  private  claims  seven  hundred  nineteen  and  five  hundred  forty- 


REGISTRATION  AND  ELECTIONS. 


67 


three  to  the  northwest  corner  of  private  claim  five  hundred  forty- 
three;  thence  southerly  along  the  westerly  line  of  private  claim 
five  hundred  forty-three  to  the  northwesterly  line  of  Baby  Creek; 
thence  southerly  along  the  northwesterly  line  of  Baby  Creek  to 
its  intersection  with  the  center  line  of  the  River  Rouge;  thence 
southerly  following  the  meandering  of  said  center  line  of  the 
River  Rouge  down  stream  to  the  Detroit  River;  thence  southerly 
to  the  national  boundary  line  in  said  Detroit  River;  thence  east- 
erly along  the  said  national  boundary  line  to  the  intersection 
of  the  west  boundary  line  of  the  sixteenth  ward  of  said  City  of 
Detroit,  as  now  bounded  and  described;  thence  northerly  along 
said  boundary  line  of  said  ward  to  the  northwest  corner  thereof; 
thence  easterly  along  the  present  northerly  boundary  of  said 
city,  being  the  northerly  boundary  of  said  ward,  to  the  place  of 
beginning. 

Sec.  2.  The  said  territory  so  annexed  to  said  city,  on  and  after 
the  first  Monday  in  April  aforesaid,  shall  be  in  part  annexed 
to  the  present  sixteenth  ward  in  . said  city  and  in  part  form  a 
ward  to  be  known,  as  the  eighteenth  ward  in  said  city.  All  of 
that  part  of  said  territory  lying  north  of  the  sixteenth  ward  of 
said  city  as  at  present  bpunded  and  defined,  and  lying  east  of 
the  west  line  of  Livernois  avenue  extended  to  the  northerly 
limits  of  said  territory  so  annexed  to  said  city  shall  be  annexed 
to  and  form  a part  of  the  sixteenth  ward.  The  eighteenth 
ward  shall  consist  of  the  territory  herein  annexed  to  said  City 
of  Detroit  other  than  that  hereby  made  a part  of  said  sixteenth 
ward. 


INDEX 


Page 

Boundaries  (City)  4 

Ward  Boundaries 6 

Annual  City  Elections  abolished 9 

Biennial  City  Elections,  when  held 9 

Biennial  Spring  Elections,  when  held 9 

Election  districts  9 

Division  of  election  districts 9 

Registrars,  when  district  is  divided 9 

Ward  lines  to  bound  election  districts: 10 

Notice  of  registration 10 

Registration  in  divided  districts,  when  held 10 

Registrars  to  he  elected  at  the  November  elections 10 

“Board  of  Registration  of  Electors,”  how  to  qualify 10 

To  hold  office  for  two  years 10 

Vacancies  in  Board,  how  filled 10 

How  elected  10 

Chairman  of  the  Board 11 

How  tie  vote  to  be  decided 11 

When  not  qualified  11 

Vacancy  in  office  of  Chairman  of  Board 11 

Meetings  of  Board  of  Registration 11 

General  registration  11 

Prove  right  of  applicant  to  register 11 

Registration  of  qualified  electors 12 

Register  of  electors  to  be  kept  by  City  Clerk 13 

Form  of  Register 14 

Board  of  Registration  to  examine  applicants 15 

Qualifications  of  applicants  for  registration 15 

How  entered  in  register 15 

Manner  of  closing  each  day’s  registration 17 

Custody  of  registers 17 

Removals  and  re-registration 17 

Board  to  make  and  compare  lists  of  electors 19 

To  certify  list 20 

Spring  registration  20 

When  registration  to  be  held 20 

Board  to  review  and  complete  the  list  of  voters 20 

Provisions  of  general  laws  relative  to  applicants  for  regis- 
tration applicable  21 

Records  of  “Deaths”  and  “Removals” 21 

Erroneous  entry  of  “Death”  or  “Removal,”  how  corrected. ...  21 
Penalty  for  false  swearing 22 


INDEX CONTINUED. 


Page 

When  Removal  Certificates  to  be  issued  by  City  Clerk 22 

Entries  to  be  made  in  ink 22 

Registers  and  the  election  list  to  be  furnished  Board  at 

opening  of  its  session 23 

Notice  23 

City  Clerk  to  deliver  copy  of  register 24 

Compensation  24 

Registration  of  Women 25 

Registrars  to  meet  for  the  purpose  of  acting  upon  applica- 
tions -for  certificates  and  to  register  absentees 25 

Organization  of  Board  of  Inspectors 27 

Inspectors  of  Election 27 

Term  of  office  28 

Vacancies,  how  filled 28 

Inspectors,  how  elected 28 

Clerks  28 

Who  shall  be  Chairman 28 

Vacancy  in  Board  of  Inspectors  and  how  filled 29 

Residence  29 

Places  for  holding  registrations  and  elections 31 

Where  registrations  and  elections  shall  not  be  held 32 

Wine,  beer,  spirituous,  or  malt  liquors  unlawful 32 

Notice  33 

Election  Commissioners  jZ.q 33 

Ballots  34 

Instructions  for  markings 34 

City  Committees  to  furnish  names  of  candidates 35 

How  to  vote  on  propositions*, 36 

Punishment  for  using  ballots  illegally 37 

Ballots  to  be  delivered  to  Board  of  Election  Commissioners.  . 37 

Enough  ballots  to  be  supplied 37 

Superintendent  of  Police  to  keep  ballots,  boxes,  etc 38 

Common  Council  to  provide  regulation  booths 39 

Duty  of  Gate-keeper  39 

Opening  and  closing  of  polls 40 

Witness  and  Challenger 40 

Opening  of  package  of  ballots 41 

Pencils  to  be  placed  in  booths 41 

Inspector  to  write  his  initials  on  ballots 41 

All  ballots  shall  be  deposited 42 

Challenges  42 

Duty  of  Inspector  to  challenge 42 

Oath  43 


INDEX — CONTINUED. 


Page 

Method  of  voting 44 

Distinguishing  marks  46 

Ballot  boxes  46 

Separate  returns  to  be  made  of  votes  cast  by  women 47 

Exhibiting  ballot  or  carrying  ballots  away 47 

Inspectors  shall  distribute  ballots,  and  assist  ignorant  voters.  47 

Spoiled  ballots  48 

Inspectors  to  keep  an  account  of  all  ballots 49 

Two  o’clock  count 49 

Procedure  in  counting 50 

Ballots  for  and  against  a proposition  to  be  counted  first 50 

Inspectors  to  count  ballots 51 

Inspectors  shall  preserve  ballots 53 

How  certified  54 

Returns . 54 

Tally  sheets  to  be  placed  in  box  with  each  count.. 55 

Board  of  City  Canvassers  58 

When  to  meet  58 

Proceedings  of  Board  58 

Clerks  58 

Compensation  of  Clerks  58 

Chairman  of  Board  58 

Record  of  determination  59 

Proceedings  in  case  of  error  in  returns  made  to  Board 59 

Registrars  and  Inspectors  shall  enforce  peace  and  good  order.  59 

Compensation  of  Inspectors  and  Clerks 61 

City  Clerk  to  procure  pamphlet  copies  hereof 61 

Special  elections  to  be  conducted  like  general  elections 61 

Election  to  fill  vacancy 62 

Tie  vote  62 

This  act  to  govern  all  elections 62  ' 

No  arrest  on  civil  process  shall  be  made  on  election  day 62 

Local  time  intended  62 

Punishment  for  fraudulent  registration  or  fraudulent  voting. . 63 

Punishment  for  falsifying  returns 64 

Punishment  for  certifying  false  returns 64 

Annexation  of  Greenfield  65 

Annexation  of  Springwells  66 


